The magazine for Issue No9 Fórsa members Winter-Spring 2020 In this issue

PSSA, pay and working time in 2020 Fitness to practise and CORU Traveller Equality Unpaid work trials National Archives under strain Activists: our best people Palestine and education Advice on Revenue changes The right to disconnect Workplace harassment The perks and pitfalls of remote working

Plus all the latest union news with food, music, travel and competitions

Time to do a deal Hours and pay in the spotlight

forsa.ie President’s foreword Taking on a Winter-Spring 2020 Time to do new decade a deal Hours and pay in the spotlight AS WE face into a new year and a new decade, I’m looking forward to the many challenges facing our union in 2020. Fórsa is produced by Fórsa trade union's communications unit and is In recent months Fórsa has begun work on a five-year strategic plan for the union. edited by Niall Shanahan. Deputy Fórsa wants you to have your say, and the SORT (Strategic Organisational Review editor Róisín McKane. Team) project is currently seeking submissions from union branches and members. Front cover: (L to R) Stuart O'Connor, Stephen Broderick, Over the course of the next year, the SORT team will be undertaking a broad and Mary Kelly, Gillian Cawley, Fórsa extensive consultation with union members, activists, branches, elected officers and official Seán McElhinney, Jackie Purcell, Susan Hogan and Paddy staff. Brock of Forsa’s Dublin Hospitals branch, pictured at a training event An online portal (https://consult.forsa.ie/en) is now open for individual and branch organised by the branch in submissions until the end of January, and I encourage you to make a submission. Athlone, County Westmeath, in This is designed to ensure the union can hear the views of all members, an November 2019. Photo: Fórsa opportunity to contribute ideas to help inform the union’s future strategy. Communications Unit 2019. Elsewhere, I’m looking forward to our biennial conference in May, preparations for which are already happening. Branch AGM season is now well underway. I’m enjoying Contact Fórsa at: the policy debates and will be looking forward to hearing some of the emerging Nerney's Court, Dublin 01 R2C5. policy initiatives being debated at our conference. Phone: 01-817-1500. www.forsa.ie Also anticipated on the union’s agenda this year will be negotiations for a successor Designed by: agreement to the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). Fórsa has already N. O'Brien Design & Print warned of the possibility that no agreement will be in place to follow the current deal Management Ltd. when it expires at the end of this year (see page 8). The timing of a general election Phone: 01-864-1920 Email: [email protected] also plays a role here, but I hope things will become clearer in the early months of 2020. Printed by Boylan Print Group. Advertising sales: As the New Year turned, my thoughts were with the school secretaries, who are still Niki O’Brien. engaged in their struggle for pay justice. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with Phone: 01-864-1920. them until their goal is achieved.

Unless otherwise stated, the Last November I visited Pakistan with our General Secretary Kevin Callinan to views contained in this magazine monitor the Lady Health Workers project supported by Fòrsa and the Nordic do not necessarily reflect the confederation of Municipal unions. Their amazing work and their warm welcome has policy of Fórsa trade union. stayed with me, and provides inspiration for the challenges of the decade ahead.

This magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper, certified by the European Eco Label. This magazine is 100% recyclable.

This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff Ann McGee, Fórsa President operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, January 2020 at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-call 1890 208 080 or email: [email protected]

All suppliers to this magazine recognise ICTU-affiliated trade unions. The magazine for Fórsa members 1 In this issue Editorial The cracks are where the light gets in Winter-Spring 2020 FÓRSA: TIME TO DO A DEAL Niall Shanahan. UNION NEWS...... 4 AS WE entered the new decade it was negotiation for a successor to the Public who has published her first book, Anseo, News Standardised leave deal for hospitals, SNA training, new PSSA measures sobering to note the dominant news Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). For a rich and unique perspective of growing stories. From catastrophic bushfires in more on the timing of it all – and the up in Ireland. TIME FOR A DEAL ...... 8 Australia to Trump’s misadventures in various moving parts – I recommend you Mr Connolly opines on the musical turns BERNARD HARBOR on the moving parts and politics of a new deal Iran it might have been a challenge to read Bernard Harbor’s feature on page see where the light of a new decade 8. of the decades of his lifetime, with could get in. football legend Liam Brady nodding his FITNESS TO PRACTISE ...... 10 This edition of Fórsa welcomes guest Sometime soon Brexit will actually contributor Paul Dillon from the approval from the sidelines. HAZEL GAVIGAN on how the union protects CORU registered professionals happen, and for all we know could Financial Services Union writing about And as a new decade dawns and you’re 4 continue to dominate the news cycle for the ‘Right to Disconnect’ campaign, looking for further signs of hope, allow SOCIAL CLASS AND EQUALITY ...... 12 the years of trade deal negotiations to while Aingeala Flannery tackles the me to refer you to the people we feature Toward a 2020 pay deal Member activist PAUL McKEOWN on social class and equality come. Anyone who claims it won’t take perks and pitfalls of remote working in that long is selling snake oil. another excellent contribution. on page 22 of this edition. The heartbeat of the union, our activists. I TRAVELLER EQUALITY...... 14 But time and events continue to move Our Culture Vulture section focuses on met with a group from our Dublin Fórsa seeks to improve the workplace for Traveller community on. Closer to home, in the coming some of the best cultural events taking months the nation will go to the polls to place in the early months of the year, Hospitals branch and it was a life elect a new government followed by (or and on our resident travel affirming experience. Our present and PAY UP...... 16 perhaps even overlapping with) a correspondent Úna-Minh Kavanagh, our future is in good hands n The workplace trials of young and migrant workers don’t pay 14 PRESERVING THE PAST ...... 18 The strain on our national archives Traveller equality GET THE BEST PEOPLE...... 22 NIALL SHANAHAN meets union activists from Dublin Hospitals branch

AN EDUCATION IN PALESTINE...... 24 ANDY PIKE and KATHLEEN O’DOHERTY on their mission to Palestine

14 HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE ...... 28 DR LAURA BAMBRICK reveals the findings of ICTU’s survey Trial of the unpaid IN PRAISE OF BUTTER ...... 32 DANIEL DEVERY on eating well in the colder months

CULTURE VULTURE ...... 34 Theatre, books and ‘Perspectives’ at the National Concert Hall

16 THE GREAT OUTDOORS ...... 40 ÚNA-MINH KAVANAGH on the delights of outdoors Ireland Palestine mission REVENUE CHANGES ...... 42 Important information on how your tax records are managed

GET DISCONNECTED ...... 44 PAUL DILLON on the FSU campaign to disconnect from our work devices

24 WIN WIN WIN ...... 47 Crossword, competitions and prize survey

2 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 3 Fórsa news We bring you a roundup of the most read news from our website and Fórsa’s fortnightly news bulletins. Fórsa wins leave standardisation deal

Delay

Fórsa official Catherine Keogh said “This was a complex process involving multiple employers and even more grades. But it’s finally over the line, and the members concerned will now have their leave standardised with other colleagues. It’s a win for them delivered by the collective strength and resources of the union,” she said. The earliest leave standardisation deal was done in 2009, but it emerged that certain grades weren’t covered. Repeated union attempts to redress A NUMBER of HSE grades, including The agreement also aligns the leave of initially stalled because of the financial environmental health officers, similar voluntary hospital staff, who crisis and subsequent recruitment biochemists, and pharmacy and clinical missed out on an earlier standardisation moratorium. measurement grades, are to get deal that aligned leave with the HSE. The union won a commitment to address enhanced annual leave arrangements the problem as part of the 2013 thanks to a deal painstakingly Under a deal brokered by the Workplace negotiated by Fórsa. The new Relations Commission (WRC), the Haddington Road public service deal, arrangement will standardise their improved leave is to be backdated to and agreement covering most staff was leave, bringing it in line with other health 2015 on a “cost neutral” basis in both done in December 2014. The recent professional grades. the HSE and the voluntary hospitals. deal has finally laid the process to rest n Fórsa consults department on SNA training programme

FÓRSA HAS begun consultation with Andy added “Consultation between the Department of Education and Skills ourselves and the Department is ongoing. (DES) on the content of a new national Fórsa remains concerned that the training training programme for SNAs. should be accredited at an appropriate The consultation process follows the level reflecting the complexity of the SNA Government’s decision to develop a new role,” he said. Schools Inclusion Model. As part of this While no agreement has been finalised on model, for the first time, the DES is the nature of provision of SNA national developing a national training training, Andy said Fórsa supports the programme for SNAs. creation of a national training programme A one-year pilot of the new ‘School for SNAs, on the condition that it reflects Inclusion Model’ scheme, commenced in the realities of the complex work carried September 2019, with 75 schools in be offered firstly to some 500 SNAs out by SNAs and is appropriately Dublin and surrounding counties taking within the pilot schools on a voluntary accredited. basis before being rolled out nationally.” part. Andy said further updates will be Fórsa’s head of Education Andy Pike Education providers have been invited provided to Fórsa’s SNA members as explained: “The information provided to to tender for the provision of the training more information on the content of the Fórsa indicates that the training would programme. training programme becomes available n To stay in touch with the latest union news visit forsa.ie and subscribe to the news bulletins, which are free to all Fórsa members. Subscribe by sending your details to [email protected] Photos: dreamstime.com

4 Winter-Spring 2020 Fórsa news Public service pay improves

increase for those who don’t benefit (ie, those earning less than €32,000 a year) n 1st October 2020: 2% pay adjustment n 31st December 2020: Agreement conclude For more detailed coverage of the PSSA and public service agreements, see our special feature on page 8 n Thousands win enhanced promotion pathway

SOME 9,000 local authority staff are to Photo: dreamstime.com benefit from new promotional pathways CIVIL AND public servants receive their service incomes from last January. Non- following the overwhelming acceptance next union-negotiated pay and pension pay provisions in the PSSA include of a Fórsa-negotiated deal in a recent levy boosts from 1st January. strong protections against outsourcing. ballot. Under the Public Service Stability Summary of income improvements The new arrangement, which will Agreement (PSSA), the salary threshold replace the common recruitment pool, n 1st January 2018: 1% pay at which staff pay the ‘additional will see 70% of promotions to grades superannuation contribution,’ formerly adjustment IV, V, VI and VII confined to eligible staff known as the pension levy, will increase n 1st October 2018: 1% pay in the local authority sector in what from €32,000 to €34,500 a year. This adjustment union’s head of local government, Peter will be worth €250 a year. Nolan, called a “game-changer in terms n 1st January 2019: Additional Those who earn less than €32,000 a of promotion opportunities.” superannuation contribution year will see their pay increased by threshold up from €28,750 to The new arrangement, proposed by the 0.5%. €32,000 (worth €325 a year). 1% Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), will see 50% of all promotions The PSSA, which was negotiated by pay increase for those who don’t between grades IV to VII confined to the Fórsa and other unions in 2017, will benefit (ie, those earning less than local authority sector, 20% confined to also deliver another 2% salary €30,000 a year) adjustment for all in September. The the employing local authority, and 30% n deal expires next December. 1st September 2019: 1.75% pay open to public competition. adjustment The PSSA was accepted in ballots of This compares to existing arrangements the members of the three unions that n 1st January 2020: Additional where half of grade V vacancies are amalgamated to create Fórsa. It also superannuation contribution open to public competition. saw the end of the pension levy on any threshold increased to €34,500 (See more on this story at forsa.ie) n non-pensionable elements of public (worth €250 a year). 0.5% pay

To stay in touch with the latest union news visit forsa.ie and subscribe to the news bulletins, which are free to all Fórsa members. Subscribe by sending your details to [email protected]

The magazine for Fórsa members 7 Public service pay Fórsa has led the charge for a reassessment Photo: dreamstime.com of the Public Service Stability Agreement in light of broader pay changes and the rising cost of living. BERNARD HARBOR reports.

Bernard Harbor. Unions warned of post-PSSA “Lurking in the background is a nightmare worst-case scenario where public sector pay increases continue to lag behind, and pay limbo no deal is in place to deal with this in 2021 and beyond.” In early 2019, Fórsa’s Kevin Callinan led compared to the public service. “The Service Pay Commission (PSPC), which unions into talks when he said the PSSA fact that the largest increase was in was established prior to negotiations on was no longer adequate to maintain administrative and support services what became the Public Service THE POSSIBILITY that no public with the current Public Service Stability possible that an election – or post- living standards and keep up with adds further weight to the union’s call Stability Agreement. service pay agreement will be in place Agreement (PSSA). election coalition talks – will be economy-wide wage settlements. for a review of public service pay," he to follow the current deal when it underway at that time instead. said. The PSPC identified a substantial Talks with the Department of Public Since then the problem has worsened, expires at the end of 2020 was recently number of grades where recruitment Expenditure and Reform (DPER), which Nobody believes that the Government with average private sector wage But lurking in the background is a raised by Fórsa at a meeting of ICTU’s and retention problems had been will make firm pay commitments when growth now running at three times the Public Service Committee, which have been underway since April 2019, nightmare worst-case scenario where an election is looming or underway. rate of public service increases in the identified, and was charged with represents most unions with members have reached broad agreement on a public sector pay increases continue to year to September 2019. Central examining them in more detail. in the public sector. basic architecture for sectoral lag behind in 2020, and no deal is in bargaining. “It’s expected that an Statistics Office (CSO) figures show place to deal with this in 2021 and Although it issued reports on a small that average weekly earnings rose by beyond. number of grades – including nurses, This would allow unions to deal with 3.9% in the private sector, and by 1.3% election, or post-election who experienced a significant pay boost grade-specific issues in talks early this in the civil and public service in that Recent pay rise projections from the on foot of the process – no definitive year, with a view to implementing coalition talks, will be period. union-backed Nevin Economic Research outcomes as part of a successor to the underway during the Institute (NERI) suggest that the gap outcomes were produced for others. PSSA. The quarterly figures suggest that the will continue to narrow. It predicts These included grades in the health period when pay talks gap between earnings in the public and average economy-wide pay increases of But, despite Leo Varadkar’s New Year private sectors is continuing to narrow, 3.6% in 2019 – significantly ahead of sector and the civil service. Fórsa put hint that state workers can expect were expected to take or even disappear. A separate and more increases under the PSSA, which came forward evidence to show that the civil “above-inflation” increases this year, place. Nobody believes detailed CSO study recently showed in at just over 1.75% in 2019. service is struggling to recruit staff in there has been no agreement on the that the public-private pay differential many areas because salaries are not amount of money that would be that the Government will narrowed between 2015 and 2018, Looking to 2020, NERI predicts keeping pace with those available in average economy-wide pay increases of available to meet such claims. More make firm pay despite the fact that significant comparable private sector jobs. worryingly, the sectoral process is yet to restoration of crisis-era pay cuts took almost 4% in a year when PSSA be signed off at political level, with commitments when an place in that period. increases will be a maximum of 2.5% in Similar arguments were put forward on finance minister Paschal Donohoe total. behalf of various health and social care election is looming or It found that the pay differential in those taking time to consider it. professions. underway.” years ranged from -3.8% to +7.1%, Fórsa has warned that the green light is depending on how it’s measured. In Making the grade Some of these were borne out late last needed soon because a near-certain other words, by some measures, year when it emerged that the minister Meanwhile, Fórsa has also been election in the first half of this year will That leaves a very tight timetable. average public service pay is now lower for children had given €60 million of her Although PSSA pay increases are than in the private sector. insisting that a mechanism for dealing telescope the time available for talks on budget back to the exchequer, even budgeted for 2020, next October’s with grade-specific issues across the Fórsa General Secretary, a possible PSSA successor. though 6,000 vulnerable children are Kevin Callinan. budget would have to make provision for civil and public service, including 2021. Welcomed recruitment and retention difficulties, yet to be allocated a social worker – one The union’s general secretary Kevin Election fever must be put in place. of the grades experiencing high staff Callinan said Fórsa and other unions The likely electoral timetable means it’s Kevin Callinan welcomed the fact that turnover and retention problems. needed to prepare for the possibility, Until recently, it was expected that talks increasingly feasible that negotiations incomes were rising, but said pay was It says the need for this has deepened while urging the Government to inject would take place in the spring or early and union ballots may not be concluded now increasing faster in virtually every since last summer, when the Bernard Harbor is Fórsa’s head of more urgency into addressing problems summer of this year. But it’s now by then. part of the private sector, when Government wound up the Public communications n

8 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 9 Fórsa membership benefits CORU is the statutory body that regulates health and social care These codes set a specific standard of Escalating Without Fórsa membership they’d be practise for each grade and any subject to significant legal fees and all professionals (HSCPs) in Ireland. Its role is to protect the public by complaint made against a registrant (a Ashley Connolly, Fórsa assistant the extra stress of directly dealing with promoting high standards of professional conduct, competence, CORU registered HSCP) will be on the general secretary with responsibility for CORU by themselves. basis that they’ve allegedly breached these cases, says the frequency of education and training. In the event a Fórsa member receives a this code. complaints escalating to hearings “You need to ensure CORU complaint and is subject to a fitness to practise procedure, significantly increased in the latter half you’re protected before “The moment you receive of 2019. anything happens to Hazel Gavigan. the union will provide support, guidance and professional legal “CORU is a very powerful body and give yourself that advice at no extra cost. HAZEL GAVIGAN reports on this notice of a complaint, you we’ve started to see it evolve recently make contact with us and as the rate of complaints has increased peace of mind.” substantial additional membership benefit. significantly in the last year. The union “The representation we provide only we’ll work together to has been representing members since covers incidents that occur when you’re CORU’s foundation but this is the first ensure your response is in membership. If you receive a time we have a list of cases where complaint, you can’t then join Fórsa for the most appropriate to they’ve made the decision to go to support on an issue that predates your public hearing so it's more important the allegations made.” membership. In that sense it’s like any Fitness to practise than ever to be protected. type of insurance. You can’t buy home In the event a Fórsa member is subject cover to claim damages after your house to a CORU complaint, the union will is flooded. provide support, guidance and You need to ensure you’re protected and union support professional legal advice at no extra before anything happens to give yourself cost. This is a substantial additional that peace of mind, and to know that membership benefit. we’re here to provide all the support you’ll need,” Ashley explains n HELEN, a social worker in Killarney, is CARMEN, a speech and language a prime example of how important therapist from Sligo explained, “Being Fórsa’s support is when dealing with the subject of any professional a CORU complaint. She has regulator’s investigation is a daunting experience of them being made experience. But it’s so reassuring to against her as both a union and a know that Fórsa will support, advise non-union member. and represent me at each stage of the investigative process. “I can’t begin to describe the difference having Fórsa’s backing “I’ve found Ashley and the legal team Ashley Connolly, Fórsa assistant so professional. Their level of made to me during this experience. general secretary. expertise and specialist knowledge in “The first time ‘round there was no “The moment you receive notice of a the healthcare fitness to practise escape. I’d come home from work, complaint, you make contact with us process is second to none. I really usually on a Friday evening and and we’ll work together to ensure your trust I’m in the best hands.” there’d be a CORU letter sitting on response is the most appropriate to the Margaret, a principal social worker in the ground waiting for me. I’d try my allegations made. We then become the Newbridge, believes everyone should best to leave it until Monday but only source of contact with CORU on join the union, but particularly ultimately I’d always end up opening your behalf so you no longer have to emphasised the importance of Fórsa them and my weekend would be engage directly with them. ruined. It felt so personal and my membership for HSCPs. “Often times a complaint won’t go any stress levels were through the roof. She explains: “CORU complaints are further than the preliminary proceedings different to regular court proceedings “Now I no longer have any direct committee, which is the first step in the as you have to prove your innocence contact with CORU as all process. However, an increasing amount as opposed to the complainant correspondence is conducted of cases are being referred on to what’s proving your guilt. It’s a very difficult through the union. Ashley will email to called a committee of inquiry for and emotional time so having proper tell me a letter has arrived, explain hearing, which is similar to something legal representation is vital. what it says and then outline how she you’d see before a court or tribunal. thinks we should reply. “I have saved thousands of euro in “Everything you say is shared with solicitors’ and barrister fees as my the complainant so having the filter Cover regular union sub covered everything. Fórsa have an expert legal team and of the union is wonderful as they only “If at any stage in the process I believe they cover the entire cost with no provide CORU with information that it’s likely to go to hearing, we expense spared. is absolutely necessary. immediately engage our legal team. “This is just a work issue now, Then myself, a solicitor and if required, a “This is a bonus benefit for HSCPs barrister, who are all qualified in which should be availed of by all. You Photo: dreamstime.com something I don’t have to take home professional regulations will meet with never know when a complaint will FÓRSA REPRESENTS dieticians, This list will grow to also include clinical HSCPs must renew their CORU with me. My mental health is so much the registrant and we start to prepare come in against you so preparation is occupational therapists, biochemists, counsellors, orthoptists, registration every two years in order to better than the last time and that’s our defence against the allegations key. The best time to join the union is physiotherapists, social workers and podiatrists, psychologists, maintain their licence to practise. In down to Fórsa’s support. I can’t speak made. today.” speech and language therapists who are psychotherapists and social care doing so, they agree to abide by their highly enough of the service they all amongst the professions currently workers in the coming months, as these respective codes of professional provide,” Helen said. “A complaint can come in at any time so *Names and locations have been changed to regulated by CORU. grades are soon to be regulated. conduct and ethics. it’s vital that practitioners are covered. protect the registrants’ identities. 10 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 11 Fórsa members at work seek such a goal become fractured and discriminate in this way, but it does importance in both human rights and Fórsa member PAUL McKEON works at the Irish Human Rights and Equality isolated into silos of minorities, rather happen and, while often done equality law, and its prohibition is Commission. He writes in this edition of Fórsa magazine about the long road to than welded into a movement of a subconsciously, it can limit social and included in a growing number of collective majority. economic mobility. jurisdictions and international and including Socio Economic Status in Irish equality legislation. European instruments. It’s also disappointing that, yet again, This type of experience is also reflected the Government response to the recent in the most recent Irish research. Does Its inclusion in Irish equality legislation demand for the inclusion of socio- it only happen to me? was compiled by also presents an opportunity for the law economic status is to have Justice All Together in Dignity Ireland. It’s a to embrace a substantive conception of commission do more research. This is a collection of stories and reflections from equality, capable of redressing material disadvantage by tackling systemic ‘No one should have to deal with that’: Taoiseach slams poverty and social exclusion. A class act discrimination shown to north inner city man It would also help to combat prejudice, stigma and stereotyping, and resolve any perception in society that there is a Lovin’ Dublin blog issues apology over offensive comments – hierarchy of equality. A perception that clear definition as to what is meant by Here’s what happened some forms of discrimination are socio-economic discrimination” was protected whereas others are not. required before the legislation could be Bernard Shaw pub ignites fury with ‘classist’ considered further. Finally, the inclusion of socio-economic Instagram post about new northside venue status in our equality legislation would The minister gave a commitment to give people access to a robust state tender for a research project “to develop system in which to lodge a complaint, as the necessary evidence base on this DIT defends garda vetting for students applying for course entry with the other grounds protected by the issue” and to “create a more precise existing legislation. definition of any potential new equality ground. This research was expected to ‘People in council estates won’t put down their address on job With these kinds of measures, people start last September and be completed applications for fear of discrimination’ who have known generational poverty by December, but the department has and exclusion would be given a more still not signed off to allow it to go level playing field. That’s worth fighting ahead. Real estate group apologises to Grafton Street flower for. sellers for ‘clutter’ remarks Paul McKeon is a Higher Executive Officer in the Irish Human Rights and Bias Social class and postcode determine students’ Equality Commission and is also part of The Government’s use of the money access to highly paid careers the Emerging Voices EU 27 future of message suggests you might only Europe panel in the Institute of expect a refusal to be based on fiscal International and European Affairs. Follow Paul on Twitter at grounds and not on any political motive. Disadvantaged communities ‘want change, not charity’ @PaulFMcKeon n However, given the class issues the new Report documents widespread discrimination on socio-economic grounds legislation raises, it appears it’s not just TWO YEARS ago I wrote an article Fórsa member, Paul McKeon. being refused on the grounds of Newspaper headlines highlighting social class prejudice. How Fórsa about my experience of growing up in legislative observations on the Bill, and perceived fiscal reasons, but more on generational poverty in Dublin’s Inner welcomed its passing, recognising that the ignorance of class bias. repeat of its response to the 2002 individuals with lived experiences of City and my experience of this could be a catalyst for breaking recommendation of the Equality social and economic discrimination. can help What’s also worrying about the Authority, and follows the 2004 discrimination because of my cycles of deprivation. continuous failure to include a socio- The discrimination is real and affects research, commissioned by Justice, to Fórsa has a unique opportunity to background. economic status in equality legislation is people every day and this is borne out However, despite its recent track record include socio-economic status. progress the efforts to finally include that it puts forward the message that with a wide range of research and I also wrote about the exclusion of as being progressive on equality issues, socio-economic status as a new “equality is not for you” to particular Research published in 2016 examined evidence. Kicking the can down the road social class or ‘socio-economic status’ the current Government issued a ‘money protected ground in equality marginalised and oppressed groups in the existence and use of socio- on the basis that this type of from Irish equality legislation. Current message’ on this Bill, which allows it to legislation. legislation outlaws discrimination in block the passing of any legislation that our society. economic status in equality law and discrimination is difficult to define is a employment conditions and requires spending public money. policies across Europe. The report poor reason to prevent its I’m suggesting that Fórsa considers This is the message that, in my opinion, opportunities, or when accessing goods, found that discrimination on these implementation. taking action by: Explaining the decision, the Minister of has divided and weakened the pursuit of services, accommodation or accessing grounds has grown in importance, both State for Justice David Stanton said “a a more equal Ireland as those who would Nuanced and abstract definitions n Writing to the Department of education. in human rights and equality law. There is also a growing body of case-law from haven’t prevented other grounds for Justice, as it has done in the past, Social and economic class shown Currently, there are nine grounds discrimination being included in the requesting a update in relation to in Dublin Central segregated by courts and tribunals on socio-economic protected by the legislation; gender, street and neighbourhoods status. existing legislation. For example, an the advancement and outcome of civil status, family status, sexual individual’s religion or faith may be as the research project they are orientation, religion, age, disability, race Extremely affluent intangible, subtle or unclear at a job currently working on that seeks to and membership of the Traveller Assumptions “create a more precise definition of Very affluent interview as their socio-economic Community. any potential new equality ground.” Recent research from Yale University background, yet religion is a firmly Affluent Not long after my article was published, found that recruiters make assumptions established ground in current n Calling on all relevant stakeholders an Oireachtas private members Bill Marginally above average about class after just a few seconds of legislation. and political parties to work sought to amend the current legislation conversation with a prospective together to make sure all Marginally below average by adding socio-economic grounds as a employee and then make snap Implications and manifestos for the 2020 general new protected ground in equality Disadvantaged decisions. elections include a commitment to legislation. recommendations improve the Irish equality legislation Very disadvantaged Dr Michael W. Kraus, an assistant with the added protection of socio- The Irish Human Rights and Equality professor at Yale, said those doing the Discrimination on grounds of socio- Extremely disadvantaged economic status. Commission (IHREC) carried out interviewing may not intentionally aim to economic status has grown in

12 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 13 Fórsa equality While Ireland’s reputation as a tolerant society is hour, significantly less than the challenged by a growing polarisation on immigration and statutory minimum wage. “When they were challenged about this, asylum issues, the Travelling Community has a unique management raised the hourly rate but understanding of how discrimination and intolerance has cut the hours of affected staff. We discovered serious issues of concern never been too far from the surface in Irish society. Fórsa’s about the treatment of Traveller workers there. Niall Shanahan. Lisa Connell. Equality Network hosted an inaugural Traveller Network event in Sligo last November, marking the commencement “These were staff employed to advance the work and support for Travellers of the union’s efforts to advocate for Travellers in the across Leitrim, and who were treated in the most shameful way by their workplace. NIALL SHANAHAN & LISA CONNELL report. employer,” Richy explains. The issue was resolved following high level talks but the episode serves to highlight the enormous work that still Prejudice and people needs to be done to ensure that Travellers are not discriminated against in the workplace, and how the union can play a robust and constructive role in this work. SPEAKING AT last November’s Traveller Equality Network event in Sligo, James O'Leary revealed that Ireland's recorded However, there remains little evidence Bernadette Maughan, manager of Sligo Traveller Support Group. 30,000 members of the Traveller that any progress has been made on community are a young population, these measures, and it is here that the Ellen also notes the rates of drug averaging 22.4 years, while half the union’s interventions could make a addiction and suicides within the Traveller population is under the age of meaningful difference. community. “I really do feel frustrated 20. Bernadette Maughan, a Fórsa member for the amount of talented young people The Irish Census figures of 30,000 and manager of Sligo Traveller Support I’ve seen who are not achieving their Travellers may be understated. The true Group spoke about the systematic potential.” figure is closer to 40,000, but many exclusion of the Travelling Community, Travellers remain reluctant to identify "There is a blind spot there. We're used their ethnicity on the census form. to it, it’s always there. This network is a Fórsa official, Richy Carrothers. O’Leary works with Involve (involve.ie), great innovation, but it shows how much still needs to be done." the main provider of youth work services Quotas for young Travellers throughout the country, which was founded in 1972. Among the required measures and Culture He outlined the disproportionately high initiatives discussed in Sligo were the Ellen Mongan is a Fórsa member level of unemployment within the need for workplace ‘champions’, positive employed in local government services community. Only 19.8% of Travellers affirmative actions and employment This revelation, above all, shows the Ellen Mongan: “We need to be empowering in Galway, having previously worked in are in employment, while only 13% quotas in order to improve employment enormous work that remains to be done our young people more. I really do feel education. Ellen is also a member of the complete their second level education. opportunities for Travellers in the civil to improve the education and frustrated for the amount of talented Traveller community, and has and public services. employment opportunities for Travellers, young people I’ve seen who are not experienced and witnessed achieving their potential." as well as to take a collective look at Travellers account for just 0.7% of discrimination, both as a woman and as ourselves, and how we might contribute Ireland’s population, so there is an a Traveller “in the workplace, both from to an improved working environment The creation of a Fórsa Traveller opportunity for the public service colleagues and service users.” where, at the very least, nobody feels Equality Network marks a new phase of employers to show leadership in this Her work now involves working with the they need to hide their identity. development for the union, and reaching area and implement a minimum Traveller community and she says out to Traveller advocacy groups, employment quota that reflects there’s a very different story to tell in developing appropriate policies and Traveller numbers in the wider terms of what Travellers are Fórsa’s Head of Education Andy Pike: "This Creating a safe space finding out how the union can eliminate community. experiencing, and where they see is the beginning for Fórsa. Our starting the social barriers experienced by point is the creation of this safe space, Addressing the Sligo meeting, attended themselves going. Low educational Travellers are some of the important The Department of Justice & Equality’s through the union’s equality network." by trade union members, community attainment remains ‘a major issue’. next steps. National Traveller and Roma Inclusion activists and members of the Travelling Strategy (2017-2021) includes a Remaining in secondary education is, James O'Leary of Involve.ie, Community, Fórsa’s Head of Education The union does have experience of commitment to develop proposals for she says, a huge challenge for most, Positive an organisation providing youth work Andy Pike said that, despite his lifelong industrial relations interventions on internships for Traveller and Roma in with a very small number going on to Commenting after the event, Jim services for young Travellers. activism on issues of racism and anti- behalf of Travellers at work. Speaking at government departments, local third level education. O’Leary said he believes the union’s discrimination, he’s ‘part of the problem’: the Sligo event, our official Richy authorities and other public bodies. In addition to the high levels of She cites the experience of young initiative marks the beginning of a “My understanding of traveller issues is Carrothers outlined the union’s unemployment and the low levels of people she knows who have used the positive and structured relationship very small. experience intervening on The commitment extends to supporting school completion experienced by the Irish form of their name in order to between Fórsa, Involve and the Traveller discriminatory treatment of Traveller the provision of transition year, leaving Travelling Community, O’Leary also “This is the beginning for Fórsa, bear disguise their Traveller ethnicity and community: “It was the first time for me workers at the Leitrim Development certificate applied and Youthreach work revealed that members of the Travelling with us. There is no policy document to background, particularly in the private that I saw the key role unions could play Company in 2018. experience placements for Travellers Community feel they have to hide their dust off and revise. Our starting point is and Roma in public services and sector, in order to secure a job interview. regarding employment of Travellers identity in their workplace because of the creation of this safe space, through “We discovered the company had been statutory agencies as a route to “We need to be empowering our young across a range of professions and n Photo: Fórsa Communications Unit. Photo: Fórsa their fear of discrimination. the union’s equality network,” he said. paying Traveller workers just €5 per meaningful employment. people more,” she says. sectors.”

14 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 15 Rights at work We asked student RORY HOGAN, who worked at Fórsa’s TWO YEARS ago I was in college and At the end of the shift, I received the workers, or migrant workers unfamiliar looking for a part time job to keep me same praise as last time and was with the legal obligations of Irish Communications Unit for a few months last summer, to write going through the college semester. A reassured again by the manager that I employers n about his experience of unpaid work trials. Anecdotal evidence, bar in my locality sent me an email was successful. With a little, but less, asking if I was interested in doing a trial confidence than before I went home particularly among younger and migrant workers, suggests shift for them. I’d applied for a job there thinking I had the job. I received a that this might be a widespread trend in some sectors, and about two months before. I jumped at message from the manager the next day the opportunity to make a good notifying me that I was, again, Rory Hogan. exposes many workers to short-term exploitation. impression. unsuccessful at the trial. This was March 2018, as the ‘Beast from the East’ brought heavy snow “National minimum across the country. I was surprised that the bar remained open during the wage rates apply to work extreme weather, but I managed to get experience placements, What are there ten minutes before my shift was due to start. work trials, internships the legal The manager showed me around and and any other brought me into his office to explain the employment practice requirements? work. He explained the trial shift would last six hours and that I would only be involving unpaid work or The Workplace Relations paid if I was successful in getting the working for room and Commission’s advice on unpaid work job. is very clear. He showed me the ropes and I found board, regardless of myself waiting on tables for the first the duration of the “The National Minimum Wage Act time. I settled in quickly and felt I applies to all individuals engaged performed well, working two hours more engagement.” under a contract of employment. than I’d agreed, which I thought might “The law defines a contract of boost my chances of getting the job. The sting in the tail, however, was that I employment as any contract whereby wouldn’t be paid for the 16 hours I’d an individual agrees with another “The following day I already worked. person, to do or to perform personally, any work or service for received another Laura that person or a third person. message from the I spoke to some friends about the “Apart from the employment of close manager, this time asking experience and was surprised to family relatives and the engagement if I’d be interested in discover many of them had similar of registered industrial apprentices, experiences of these unpaid trial shifts. there is no exemption in law from the doing another ‘trial’ shift. My friend Laura applied for a job in a obligation to pay the national late-night bar that doubled as a café minimum hourly rate of pay. I was a little suspicious during the day. She was told she’d be “Therefore, national minimum wage trialled doing either a late-night or a when it was offered at rates apply to work experience breakfast shift. such short notice.” placements, work trials, internships Laura ended up completing a 25-hour and any other employment practice trial, working both shifts, and was involving unpaid work or working for The manager congratulated me and offered a job and then rostered for a room and board, regardless of the assured me the job was mine. I went succession of late-night and early duration of the engagement. home with a copy of the menu to breakfast shifts. This left Laura with just memorise for my next shift two days six hours to rest between busy shifts. “The right to receive the minimum later. However, the next time I heard When she queried this, the offer of a job wage cannot be waived in a contract from them it was to tell me the job had was immediately withdrawn and Laura as any provision in an agreement to gone to someone else. They weren’t was never paid for her 25-hour ‘trial do so is void as a matter of law. hiring me after all. I was disappointed, shift’. but I moved on. “Failure to pay the national minimum Clearly, there are some employers hourly rate of pay is a criminal taking advantage of an opportunity to offence, punishable upon summary Free trial Round two exploit workers, though it’s hard to say if conviction, by a fine not exceeding it’s widespread. It is most visible in the The following day I received another €2,500 or imprisonment not hospitality industry where it seems to message from the manager, this time exceeding 6 months or both. be a common recruitment feature, at asking if I’d be interested in doing least for workers without any previous “In addition, an employee not in another ‘trial’ shift. I still needed a job, experience. receipt of the national minimum so I made my way over through heavy hourly rate of pay may refer a snow, a little suspicious that the shift But where such practices can develop complaint to a WRC Adjudication was offered to me at such short notice. unchecked it’s too easy for Officer who may order payment of the The manager brought me through the unscrupulous employers to exploit the fiasco wages unpaid or underpaid.” same routine and explained that practice to cut costs. Of particular someone had just quit so there was a concern is how it could be used to See more at workplacerelations.ie/n

Photo: dreamstime.com vacancy. exploit young and inexperienced

16 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 17 Public services Photo: gettyimages.ie Ireland’s national archive was in the spotlight again as 2019 turned into 2020, with journalists and researchers drooling over the latest batch of State records released under the ’thirty-year rule.’ But a new report says this trusted repository of precious records is at risk.

Bernard Harbor. Roisin McKane. RÓISíN McKANE and BERNARD HARBOR lift the lid. Precious national archives creaking under pressure

Fórsa official Seán Carabini said the “The scant and declining involvement of Then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey on the crisis in the State’s archives meant the professionally-trained archivists, steps of No 10 Downing Street, quality of material made available to including in records management, the with then British Prime Minister NAMA, THE Central Bank, the National four out of 61 State departments and Northern Ireland in terms of the journalists, researchers and the public digitation of records and IT more Margaret Thatcher in 1980. Treasury Management Agency, the agencies covered by the National employment of qualified archivists and under the thirty-year rule and other generally, is putting the quality of our Garda Ombudsman, and the children’s Archives Act are up-to-date with their other relevant specialists. services was in rapid and steady national repository at serious risk as the way we keep records and tell our agency Tusla are among over 150 legal obligations to transfer records to National Archive Ireland employs 40% decline. new technologies increasingly shape national story,” he said n publicly-funded State bodies with no National Archives Ireland, the body fewer staff per capita than the National legal requirement to maintain and charged with maintaining archives and Records Office in Scotland, and 25% archive records for eventual release to making them available to the public. fewer than the Public Records Office in Our story the public under the ‘thirty-year rule.’ See for The union also says the annual transfer Northern Ireland, while most of its “In reality, most of the State institutions That’s one of the findings of a new employees have no relevant of records under the thirty-year rule has required to release material to the report into Ireland’s national archives, professional training. been scaled back this year because of a National Archives don’t do so. And the which uncovered a system creaking yourself lack of storage space. majority of public service bodies under the pressure of staff and skills What’s the established since 1986 have no legal shortages, expanded responsibilities, The report, which was undertaken on requirement to transfer records to the new technologies, space constraints, behalf of the Fórsa’s Archivists’ Branch thirty-year rule? archives at all. Visiting the national archives and legislative shortcomings. by Creative Cultures and Associates, uncovered a substantial backlog in the “These include organisations like NAMA, You can view Irish records dating from medieval times It’s the informal name given to laws in processing of records, and in making to the end of the last century at the National Archive in Ireland that require many the National Treasury Management “Organisations like them available to the public. Dublin’s Bishop Street. Its public reading room is open Government documents to be Agency, the Garda Ombudsman and Monday to Friday, and many records - including the NAMA, the National It also identified major shortcomings in released to the public after 30 years. Tusla, which have played, or are playing, 1901 and 1911 census and soldiers’ wills from the the digitisation of records and the A similar system is in place in other leading roles in Ireland’s social, political Treasury Management and economic story,” he said. First World War – are available online. development of online access. countries, including Britain and Agency, the Garda Australia. Fórsa is calling for a fundamental review A free genealogy advice service is also available for anyone who wants help This is largely due to serious staffing of the relevant legislation, with a view to researching their family tree. Ombudsman and Tusla, and skills shortages in National Archives Legislation has recently been passed extending its scope and updating legal Ireland, a problem that will be to change to a twenty-year rule, Students, historians, academics, journalists, legal searchers and those interested which are playing leading requirements on information exacerbated when the 20-year rule, due partly because Britain has already in their family history are among the many people who visit the facility. In addition governance, data retention, GDPR and roles in our national story, to replace the current 30-year done so. The change will ensure that to departmental files, the archive holds official records like wills, court files, digital preservation. arrangement soon, is implemented. Republic of Ireland material about licensing applications, maps, and census returns. have no obligation to Northern Ireland and our relations The union also wants a rapid and There’s always an archivist on duty to provide advice and answer queries. maintain or archive with the UK are available at the same comprehensive review of records Staff under pressure time as British documents from the management across the public sector, National archives also participate in Culture Night each year, allowing even more records for eventual same period. and adequate and suitable space to people to visit and see the behind-the-scenes work of the archive repository, The report found that National Archive store the growing national archive. digitisation and conservation. release to the public.” Ireland’s staff complement is currently Meanwhile, professional archive staff 25% below the number identified as are virtually non-existent in major State Seán also called for an immediate The National Archive website also provides information and guidance on visiting Published by Fórsa last December, just necessary in management’s 2016 departments and agencies, and there is increase in staffing from the current 45 and using the archives. as archivists prepared to release more workforce plan. The organisation also no State policy governing the to 60, in line with a management Get more information at nationalarchives.ie or follow National Archive Ireland eagerly awaited papers in January lags behind comparable state archive management of electronic records in workforce plan, with an emphasis on on Twitter (@NARIreland) or Instagram (@NARIreland) n 2020, the report also says that only bodies in Denmark, Scotland and place. professionally-trained specialists.

18 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 19 Climate crisis Don’t give up! Disturbing new data on the climate recently as 2017. A year later two more affected by green measures, Behind the scenes, Fórsa deployed its studies had us second from the bottom, particularly through the creation of campaigns and communications crisis should inspire us to act, and unions have a just above Poland. meaningful employment replacement expertise to support the determination opportunities. and urgency of the young organisers, unique role to play, says RÓISÍN McKANE and So, while everybody - unions, who were spearheaded by the students employers, politicians, even banks – are BERNARD HARBOR. behind earlier school strikes for climate talking about climate action, are we War action. really seeing enough political and social Photo: dreamstime.com. will to migrate to a low-carbon economy Gold called for a “war on emissions,” Bernard Harbor. Roisin McKane. in time? expanded public transport, and major programmes to retrofit public housing and the homes of those on low incomes. Hopes And she argued that we need to Unions can help win Here and abroad, many of us are placing radically revise our social policy to our hopes in building public and political develop a progressive welfare state, support for a ‘green new deal,’ social insurance and quality social services: a “social floor to be First proposed by US Democrats, and strengthened and reformed to address inspired by US President Roosevelt’s a green new deal 1930’s depression-busting ‘New Deal,’ the challenges of an equally the green new deal describes a package unpredictable world.” of social and economic measures that Gold reckons Ireland is well placed to would simultaneously address climate participate in a global response in these change and economic inequality, ways. But she warned that changed including by harnessing the employment mind-sets were needed. Put another and economic potential of green way, we need a socio-political tipping technologies and industries. point to head off the environmental tipping point.

But change is happening. Political Greta Thunberg. candidates know that green concerns are high on the agenda as we enter a Working with the protest organisers, and general election year. In many countries, without fuss or profile, we helped including Ireland, last May’s local and promote the demonstrations and get European elections saw climate become young, passionate voices on the a decisive voting issue for the first time airwaves. in history. Working with other unions and Here and abroad, the environment is environmental groups, the union has also now one of the primary concerns for lobbied the Government to establish a hundreds of millions of citizens – a national just transition taskforce to number that will grow as the ‘climate oversee and manage Ireland’s move to a low carbon economy. Dr Lorna Gold speaking at the NERI strike generation’ becomes part of the climate event in December. electorate. It sits nicely with the concept – They know that change of the scale and Deep well championed by unions here and abroad speed we need will have to be state-led. We now need to see unions draw from – of a ‘just transition,’ which would Yet despite the ravenous appetite for their deep well of policy and negotiating protect workers and communities change, political systems are slow to experience to push politicians and currently dependent on act. corporations from fine words to robust environmentally-damaging jobs and Even considering the ‘additional actions that will meet our climate targets industries as we move to a low-carbon measures’ proposed by Government in while keeping the transition just – and to world. the National Climate Action Plan, it’s make a reality of the bold ambition of the Speaking at a recent event hosted by sometimes difficult to see where green new deal. the union-backed Nevin Economic Ireland’s promised radical cut in Photo: Conor Healy, Picture It. Picture Healy, Photo: Conor Addressing a major conference of Research Institute, Dr Lorna Gold said emissions is going to come from. THE CLIMATE emergency is now near Thousands participated in the Climate Action strike rallies in cities and towns across European trade unions last summer, this demanded a total rework of our the top of the international political Ireland in September. Fórsa staff and activists took part in the Dublin and Cork events. Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan ideas of economic development. “This is agenda, but it’s also picking up pace. highlighted the role that unions have to the global mobilisation for climate thoughtfully, and even buying more fuel- not about recovery or coming out of a Unique Even if we stopped emitting all play in this global response, and urged action, says we should “listen to the efficient cars. All of these are important crisis,” she said. greenhouse gases today, global That’s where trade unions – with their them to do more. scientists.” That’s not always behavioural changes. Every little helps. warming would continue for several The Maynooth academic urged policy resources, numerical strength and comfortable. “Unions must go beyond the protection more decades at least. But if we’re approaching the tipping makers to focus on communities on the longstanding experience of effective of the people we directly represent, to Towards the end of last year, they point – and some say it’s already best margins and to manage the migration to political campaigning – can perhaps play In the absence of rapid and fundamental embrace and lead the imaginative sparked new concerns that the world seen from a rear-view mirror – relatively low-carbon by creating generous a unique role. change, global temperatures are on policies and difficult actions needed to may already have already crossed a small changes like this won’t make supports for those affected by the track to keep rising to levels that will Last September, an estimated four confront the single most catastrophic series of climate thresholds, and enough headway to save the planet. necessary economic and industrial harm millions and probably destroy the million people took part in the largest threat facing humanity,” he said. warned of an “existential threat to shifts. planet. And Ireland remains a laggard on ever worldwide mobilisation for action civilisation” if we don’t act faster. We need to do it faster. climate action. The Climate Change While there are no jobs on a dead on the climate crisis, with tens of The young Swedish activist Greta Lots of us are now recycling, turning off Performance Index ranked us the worst planet, she said we must share the thousands attending events in more Róisín McKane and Bernard Harbor Thunberg, who’s been instrumental in the lights, shopping and eating more EU country on climate action as unavoidable cost to workers directly than 50 Irish cities and towns. work in Fórsa’s Communications Unit n 20 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 21 Our activists Fórsa’s branch activists are the lifeblood of the union and we’re lucky leaving their chosen profession as a prosthetics department of the National involvement. “My job has given me good consequence of the lack of career Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún people skills and when you combine that to have them. All over the country, in every employment where the progression. The biggest lesson I’ve Laoghaire, and is a long time union with information sharing and the union represents workers, we have activists who give their own time learned throughout my involvement with activist. I asked him what it is that collective experience within the branch, the union is that you have to keep keeps him involved. Paddy feels strongly it provides you with the skills to to solve problems, deal with members’ queries, establish union policy arguing,“ she says, drawing instant that the motivation for union activism is represent people in the workplace.” laughter (and approval) from her all about a person’s interest in their Having enjoyed their warm welcome and and provide crucial union leadership. NIALL SHANAHAN spent some colleagues. fellow man, driven by a desire for justice excellent hospitality, I came away from and fairness at work. Niall Shanahan. time with senior activists from Fórsa’s Dublin Hospitals branch to my chat with these activists struck by find out who they are and what motivates them. “My job has given “For me the issues are participation in their commitment and the serious and the branch, including the social element. professional way they approach both me good people skills The friendships I’ve made in the union their work and their union activism. It’s and when you combine over the years are very important to me. complemented by a mix of great personalities and, if I found myself in a “My involvement in the union gives me that with information tight corner in work, these are exactly an additional interest in life. I’ve also got the type of people I’d want around me. sharing and the an interest in what’s going on the The best people Great activists, great people n collective experience workplace and, more generally, in the country,” he explains. within the branch, it Fórsa’s Dublin provides you with the Priorities Health Cluster skills to represent people Stephen Broderick is chair of the in the workplace.” branch, and is a principal clinical engineering technician in St Luke’s Hospital. He’s been active in the union Mary Kelly is a staff grade for more than 15 years and was physiotherapist in Beaumont who’s been recruited into the union by former active in the union since 2018, when IMPACT President, the late and much she was co-opted on to the branch loved union stalwart Edwina Jones. following her work with the union’s Physiotherapists vocational group. Mary “For me it’s a case of identifies lots of issues requiring being able to speak up on by Seán McElhinney attention, but, like Gillian, career structure and progression for therapy behalf of people who grades are top of her list. She explains THE DUBLIN Hospitals' Branch is one it’s key to retaining these professionals might be reluctant to of four branches which make up the in the public health system. Recruitment speak up for themselves. Fórsa Dublin Health Cluster. of health and social care professionals Alongside our Boards and Voluntary (HSCPs) into the union is also a priority When people work Agencies, Dublin Care Services and for her. together and prepare well Irish Youth Justice branches, the Dublin Health Cluster is an aggregate they can achieve things of approximately 6,000 Fórsa Kudos for their colleagues. members. Jackie Purcell, a deputy patient services That’s our strength.” The branches within the cluster share manager in St Luke’s Hospital has been a vision about how they can best a union member since the 1980s, and deliver for their members. That vision “For me it’s a case of being able to speak active in the branch for the last six is set to be realised this year. up on behalf of people who might be years. Fairness is a big motivation. “Not reluctant to speak up for themselves. Members across the cluster will be enough kudos is given to the people on When people work together and prepare

Photo: Fórsa Communications Unit. Photo: Fórsa able to access advice and support, the ground floor who carry the health well they can achieve things for their tailored to their particular needs, by (L to R) Stuart O'Connor, Stephen Broderick, Mary Kelly, Gillian Cawley, Fórsa official Seán McElhinney, Jackie Purcell, service from day to day. My approach to colleagues. That’s our strength. making a call to a special cluster Susan Hogan and Paddy Brock of Fórsa’s Dublin Hospitals branch, pictured at a training event organised solving problems in the workplace is to by the branch in Athlone, County Westmeath, in November 2019. advice-line or dropping an email to focus on fairness,” she explains. “Our priorities include standardisation of the cluster member-mailbox. The annual leave (see news on page 4) about THE DUBLIN Hospitals branch of Fórsa programme organised, and the mood in Stuart O’Connor is a procurement branches hope to make it as easy as Comradery Fórsa’s recent breakthrough on this is among the largest branches of the the room was lively. manager in Tallaght Hospital since its possible for members to get the issue), we have 39 individual employers, union, with a long history reaching back Gillian Cawley has been a union member establishment, having previously advice and support they need, when The officers of the branch squeezed in a so we have plenty of issues common to for 27 years and is a senior pharmacy worked as a porter in the Adelaide they need it. beyond the establishment of IMPACT in separate meeting between sessions, all employments, but others are specific technician in Temple Street Children’s Hospital. He joined his first union in 1991, representing staff across nine and the chat between activists ranged to particular grades and locations,” he Their working relationship won't stop Hospital. She’s been a rep and active on 1993, and stepped in to branch Dublin’s hospitals. between agenda items for the next says. there. The branches plan to publish a activism in 2013. AGM, industrial relations issues the branch committee now for five regular bulletin, reporting on issues I met the members of the branch Susan Hogan is a senior receptionist in emerging in different employments, years, and says it’s all about comradery Stuart says getting the facts straight is of shared interest for members committee for a training day in Athlone Leopardstown Park Hospital, where future holiday plans and day-to-day life. for her. “I got involved initially because I a vital part of representing members in across the cluster, and work together last November. I was there to give them she’s worked for 36 years. The union like making sure that people’s rights at the workplace, and welcomes the on campaigns to better the lot for some tips on public speaking, and What became clear fairly quickly is that played a role in turning her initial two- work are looked after. opportunity to learn about the varied their members at work and home. arrived as my colleague Dessie this is a group of like-minded friends year temp job into a permanent post at challenges in different employments. Robinson was putting them through with a deeply held interest in how union “Pharmacy, for example, has been left the beginning of her career. Susan Seán McElhinney is an assistant their paces on health and safety. The strength works for the members of their behind. Career progression remains an Paddy Brock is a retired member of the enjoys the information sharing general secretary with Fórsa n branch had a very packed two-day branch. issue. We don’t want to see people branch, who enjoyed a long career in the opportunities through her union 22 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 23 International Fórsa’s Head of Education ANDY PIKE travelled to Palestine last October to examine education provision in the occupied Teenager describes Palestinian territories. The visit was organised by the Trade Union Friends of Palestine, and Andy was joined by Fórsa incarceration by member activists including school secretary Kathleen O’Doherty, Andy Pike. SNAs Annette Murphy and Niamh Jordan and Shelley Healey Israeli authorities from the union’s Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown branch. PALESTINIAN YOUTH Ahmed Alsoos was released last autumn from an Israeli military jail, following a six-month prison sentence for throwing a stone at a soldier – a charge he denies. Bearing witness to Speaking in Dublin last November, at a conference on the rights of Palestinian children organised by Trade Union Friends of Palestine (TUFP), Ahmed, now 17, recalled the horrors of his time in prison and the drawn-out military court proceedings – during by Mehak which he had no contact with his family – that led to his conviction, solely on the testimony of an Israeli soldier. Dugal conflict and hope Hebron checkpoint. He recounted his confinement in a small, stuffy dark room with no The Al Wifaq primary school, inside the windows, and tearfully relived the constant humiliation, degradation and abuse he old city of East Jerusalem, is situated in suffered at the hands of the guards. a residential building on the first floor. Since Israel lowered the age of criminal responsibility, the military can – and do – Israeli settlers have occupied the arrest and confine children as young as 12 years old. adjacent building and use the same stairwell as students entering and The conference called on the Irish Government to halt trade links with Israel in leaving the school. protest at the systematic maltreatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli military. There is a unique tension in the air when a school is forced to exist in close Speaking on behalf of proximity to Israeli settlers. The TUFP, Fórsa official Denis playground is a small internal courtyard Keane said an Israeli with no space for children to run or play. strategy of mass arrests The classrooms are cramped and dark, and maltreatment of but are decorated with the same Palestinian children was artwork and pictures you see in any being implemented on an classroom in the west. “industrial scale,” and appeared to be part of a continued on page 26 deliberate policy to traumatise large numbers of children. According to UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, 59 Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces in 2018. Another 3,472 were injured, while over 200 children – some as young Khaled Quzmar, General Director of as 12 – were detained and Defense for Children International, translates for prosecuted in the Israeli teenager Ahmed Alsoos at the Dublin Trade Union military court system Friends of Palestine event in November 2019. every month. “Israel is the only country in the world that prosecutes children through military WE WERE not fully prepared for our And we were overwhelmed by the Al Fataa Al Laji'a primary school for girls. tribunals instead of civilian courts, and even strong allies of Israel have expressed experience in Palestine. dedication of the teaching and other alarm at its treatment of Palestinian children. just outside the walls of the old city of We were disarmed by the warm staff we met there. We can have nothing Jerusalem. The Israeli authorities refuse “We are calling on the Irish Government to take a stronger stand on Israel’s welcome we received from teachers, but admiration for those struggling to permission for the construction of deliberate policy of killing, injuring, imprisoning and traumatising thousands of children and parents in the schools of provide an education to students under Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem, children. It should end all economic and trade links with Israel until the physical East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the occupation in the most trying of so this school operates in converted and psychological maiming of Palestinian children stops,” said Denis. Jordan Valley. conditions. residential buildings. It’s funded by the Other speakers included psychiatrist Samah Jabr, who spoke about the physical Palestinian Authority, but its status is We were moved by the friendly, excited and mental impact of living in a war-torn environment, and the suppressed trauma not recognised by Israel. and curious children enjoying an Tension experienced by children who experienced violent and life-threatening education that is being delivered in the The children are the same as children confrontations with Israeli soldiers. Speakers were united in their calls for greater most challenging and hostile The first school we visited was the Al anywhere. Excited, curious and proud of Forsá delegate Shelley Healy EU solidarity with the Palestinian people n circumstances. Fataa Al Laji’a Primary School for girls, their school and their culture. with parents in Hebron. 24 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 25 International Hebron We visited a school in Hebron situated in Journey to Hebron the middle of the old town where thousands of Palestinians live in a militarised zone with multiple check points. KATHLEEN O’Doherty is a long time activist with Fórsa and has worked as a school secretary in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal for 24 “There is a unique years. She spoke to me about her impressions of Palestine. tension in the air when “It was overwhelming at times. As a grandparent of six boys aged a school is forced to 10 years to six months, I’m used to boys being boys, but I can’t imagine them having to live the way kids do in Palestine. exist in close proximity by Niall “How they’re being treated as they come through checkpoints, to Israeli settlers.” emptying their pockets, lifting up their jerseys, and how many Shanahan times can a young boy can endure that?,” she says. We witnessed teachers and others undergoing several physical checks on Kathleen’s description of her own encounters with Israeli military and security their way into work. Perhaps the most personnel frequently refers to the fear and tension involved. All she thought about distressing spectacle was the treatment each time this happened was the effect of such encounters on children. of the school children on their way to “They provide anger management school. Their bags were searched and training for young children from contents upturned on inspection primary school onwards, emphasising benches, boys were required to lift the dangers they’d face if they shirts and show their torso and legs in retaliated in any way to their front of heavily armed soldiers. experiences at checkpoints. “If they retaliate that could lead to arrest and abuse. It’s a side of life there that struck me more than anything else, that young children need to be trained to keep themselves safe. It’s bound to affect their development,” she says. On her first day in the country, Kathleen was struck by the beauty of the countryside. “But then, when you see the wall, and the settlements which are pristine and well kept, and you get to the other side and witness the level of deprivation, in which School secretary Kathleen O’Doherty Palestinians are living. I noticed that with Samir Jibrel, ead of the Palestinian more than anything else. EducationMinistry, Jerusalem Branch. “Hebron was grim. Formerly busy shopping streets are boarded up and deserted. It’s hard to imagine what it used to be. Our driver at one point was surrounded by soldiers after waving to our guide up the street. They checked his phone, his papers, they appeared from nowhere. “Kathleen’s description of her own encounters with Israeli military and security personnel frequently refers to the fear and tension involved. All she thought about The Al Aroub refugee camp each time this happened was the effect of such outside Bethlehem. encounters on Palestinian children.” All our delegates returned with concerns over just how these conditions “I work in a lovely, bright and well-equipped school in Donegal, so I was also struck continue to affect children and their by how the children are being taught in small, residential living rooms. The schools education. The dedication of the are doing their best in very difficult circumstances, but it is a world away from the teaching and other staff we met was experience of our children here. tremendous. “They’re happy kids, despite everything, and were clearly excited by our visit. We must redouble our efforts to ensure Everyone we met gave us a very warm welcome, which I found very moving. We that Israeli and Palestinian children are met so many people working hard to alleviate suffering and deprivation. Seeing given equal life chances. what they’re up against was unnerving and, at times, traumatic,” she says. Read Andy’s full account of the visit at Kathleen is clearly moved and deeply affected by what she saw, but expresses her forsa.ie/blog gratitude for being able to bear witness and meet, as she says, so many wonderful Fórsa is affiliated to the Boycott Divest people. She pays particular thanks to Andy Pike for leading the delegation. “Andy Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Find out was, at all times, so supportive and caring and reassuring throughout. He made us n more at www.bdsmovement.net n feel safe and I’m very grateful for that,” she says 26 Winter-Spring 2020 Irish Congress of Trade Unions Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any Photo: dreamstime.com time. Yet all too often, it happens in the workplace. Congress Social Policy Office DR LAURA BAMBRICK shares some of the findings of a recent Congress survey of trade union members’ experience of sexual harassment at work.

Dr Laura Bambrick Sexual harassment in the workplace

AHEAD OF the International Day to End around one in three working women will being seriously sexually assaulted or Violence against Women last experience sexual harassment in the raped at work, of which five November – a UN designated day which workplace over the course of their respondents said that this occurred kick-starts 16 days of activism against working life. The purpose of the within the past 12 months. gender-based violence – the Irish Congress survey was to gain a deeper Congress of Trade Unions conducted an understanding of workers’ experience – “The purpose of the online survey of more than 1,300 union the type of incident, the perpetrator and members with experience of sexual location, the barriers to reporting, and Congress survey was to harassment and sexual assault in the the impact sexual harassment has on gain a deeper workplace. Fórsa members accounted the lives of those affected. for 40% (542) of all respondents. understanding of For instance, the Christmas party has “Sexual harassment is long been identified as the most workers’ experience – common off-site location of workplace the type of incident, the defined as any form of sexual harassment, and this is borne out While the #MeToo movement has shed policy and procedures in place to in our survey. However, the extent of perpetrator and location, light on the hidden problem of sexual prevent, and deal with, sexual unwanted verbal, non- unwanted sexual behaviour from harassment and sexual assault at work “We need to see more harassment in the workplace. We need colleagues taking place online points to the barriers to reporting, verbal or physical and empowered women to speak out, to see more urgent action to tackle this a growing problem in the modern urgent action to tackle and the impact sexual the fear of a negative impact on their problem – raise awareness that such conduct of a sexual workplace. One in five (20%) of the career or their working relationships this problem – raise behaviour is unacceptable and may be most recent incidents experienced by harassment has on the nature which has the were the most common reported subject to discipline, adopt respondents had taken place at a work- lives of those affected.” reasons for not taking action (three in awareness that such purpose or effect of related social event. One in seven (14%) comprehensive and accessible policy, five respondents). behaviour is put in place robust procedures for violating a person’s had taken place on the phone, by email In line with existing research, the Two in five took no action because they reporting, for supporting victims and for or over social media. Congress survey found that in eight out unacceptable and may dignity and creating an felt they would not be believed, taken dealing with perpetrators. of ten cases (81%), the harasser in the seriously or they would be blamed. be subject to discipline, intimidating, hostile, most recent incident was a man. For the Congress wants to see more employers Incidents and perpetrators Worryingly, one in ten did not know that majority, their harasser had been a adopt comprehensive making use of the provision in the they could report the sexual harassment degrading, humiliating colleague (one in two incidents). One in We asked respondents to select from to their employer or how to go about and accessible policy, Department of Justice Code of Practice or offensive environment several options the type of sexual three (31%) reported that their direct on Sexual Harassment at Work to have reporting the incident. put in place robust for the person.” harassment they had experienced, and manager or another manager was their designated people to make an initial allowed them to select more than one harasser. Respondents were asked to list the procedures for reporting, informal approach to the harasser in option in recognition of the fact they effects the harassment had on them. circumstances – where it is too difficult Sexual harassment is defined, in the might have had multiple experiences. Feeling embarrassed (one in two for supporting victims for the worker to explain to the harasser Employment Equality Acts 1998- Reporting and impact respondents), cautious of certain work that the conduct is not welcome – that it 2015, as any form of unwanted verbal, The most common type of sexual and for dealing with The survey found a high number of situations (two in five) and less offends them or makes them non-verbal or physical conduct of a harassment incident reported by confident at work (one in three) were all workers experiencing sexual perpetrators.” uncomfortable. After all, most of those sexual nature which has the purpose or respondents were verbal e.g. harassment take no action (either formal cited by respondents, as well as it effect of violating a person’s dignity and unwelcome jokes of a sexual nature (one who experience sexual harassment at or informal) and there is an unacceptably having a negative professional (one in creating an intimidating, hostile, in two incidents); verbal sexual work simply want the harassment to high level of dissatisfaction with their six), psychological (one in four) and degrading, humiliating or offensive advances (two in five), comments of a Congress, together with trade unions stop and to do their job without employer’s actions among those who do physical (one in ten) impact. environment for the person. sexual nature about their body or across Europe, are actively calling for interference. report. Four in five workers (81%) took clothes (one in three). the ratification by Member States of the The survey focused exclusively on no action, while only one in four of the There needs to be real consequences Congress recommendations 2019 ILO Violence and Harassment in people’s experience of unwanted sexual Around one in seven (15%) of small minority who did report sexual for employers who do not comply with the World of Work Convention. behaviour at work, rather than respondents reported experiencing harassment to their employer felt it was Trade unions and employers play an their obligations under the Acts. measuring the scale of the problem. We unwanted sexual touching or attempts taken seriously and dealt with important role in preventing sexual The Employment Equality Acts places a Everyone has the right to respect and know from international studies that to kiss them. Two per cent reported satisfactorily. harassment and violence at work. legal responsibility on employers to have wellbeing at work n

28 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 29 Opinion As employers seek more worker flexibility and technology voicemail. Outside a concrete block the Hours for a reply. I was starting to feel stupid size of a double decker bus is swinging and unproductive, and there was blurs the boundaries of working time, is working from home from the crane by chains, if it falls it will More than 200,000 people in Ireland nobody to tell me I wasn’t. There were a boost for productivity or a tool of social isolation? In this surely kill someone. I wonder what kind work remotely, yet there’s a perception days when the crane-operator was the of character assessment crane- that you’re not really working if you’re only adult I saw and I wondered if he felt edition AINGEALA FLANNERY looks at the perks and operators undergo, if any. doing it at home, that you’re not ‘part of as lonely as I did. pitfalls of remote working. the proper workforce’. This is especially the case if you are freelancing despite Compared to him, I’d little to complain Keep an eye out for the evidence to show that the self- about. I had a heater, a radio and a Aingeala Flannery. black dog employed work an average of ten hours toilet. If I fancied a cup of tea or a more a week than employees. sandwich all I had to do was get it. I was Three years ago, I decided to go Freelancers complain of being ‘always my own boss, I didn’t have to shower or freelance for ‘family reasons’. I’d had on’ and certainly that’s how I felt: put on make-up. I could work in my enough of juggling childcare and work, available 24/7, at the beck and call of pyjamas. I didn’t actually own pyjamas, I Working from home all I wanted was flexibility, especially whoever needed me. owned a pair of leopard print lounge around the school holidays. I remember pants and they became my work telling this to my GP as she stuck a flu “My own son started to uniform, with slipper boots and an jab into my upper arm. ‘Hmm,’ she said. It oversized grey cardigan. Some days I was not the response I’d hoped for. baulk at going to was unrecognisable, even to myself. Previously when we’d discussed my Afraid that this might be the ‘black dog’ work/life balance, she’d warned I was at aftercare – why couldn’t the doctor had warned me about, I risk of burning out if I didn’t slow down. he sit in front of the telly decided to go for a walk every day. What did I expect from her now? scratching himself while It was on one of my walks that I came Congratulations and applause? ‘Mind across the ‘creative workspace’, in the yourself,’ she said. ‘and keep an eye out I worked? Nobody backstreets near the canal. It had huge for the black dog.’ She withdrew the windows and graffiti art on the walls. A syringe and I felt like I was deflating. seemed to take my job couple of hipster types – faux hillbillies – At the time, I had two friends who were as seriously as I did. Did were manoeuvring a foosball table working from home. One, a therapist, for they even understand through the open doors. A sign in one of whom it was going quite well, except the windows advertised ‘available co- when clients felt entitled to miss and what my job was?” working spaces’. I tried and failed to change appointments. The other friend, imagine myself making small talk with my creative co-workers, my lounge a journalist, was employed by a start-up Friends and relations who were on pants and slippers giving me away for that had yet to find a suitable premises, holidays, or leave, or were stay-at-home the misanthrope I had become. it was using hot desks and was allowing parents texted me to go for coffee, some employees, including my friend, to walks, and playdates. Parents who were work remotely. stuck in the office or in traffic asked if it “I tried and failed to was okay for me to pick their kid up from imagine myself making “The worst part school, seeing as though I was at home. small talk with my was the surveillance. My own son started to baulk at going to aftercare – why couldn’t he sit in front of creative co-workers, my Her employer had the telly scratching himself while I lounge pants and installed productivity worked? Nobody seemed to take my job as seriously as I did. Did they even slippers giving me away monitoring software understand what my job was? for the misanthropist on the laptops of Something to do with books and children and writing? I had become.” remote workers, to The work itself was going well, not only make sure they was I making a living but we could afford By then, I’d been working from home for to go on holidays, and I was so busy that more than two years, and in that time weren’t skiving off.” I found myself turning down jobs. I didn’t hundreds of buy to rent apartments want to spend my nights as well as my were built on the land surrounding our She couldn’t afford to take full maternity days alone in the box bedroom, shackled little cul de sac. In September, the crane leave after the birth of her second child to the computer. What I wanted was outside my window was dismantled and IT TAKES the crane-operator forever to feels anything but. I email X, who “More than 200,000 and so was back to work, breastfeeding company. I wanted work colleagues to the operator moved on to another job. I climb the ladder in the morning. I see responds and CCs Y. In order to at the desk in her home office. It was, in tell me what was good on Netflix, I was surprised at how bereft I felt—and him when I raise the bedroom blind to people in Ireland work progress the issue Y has a question that her words, ‘a dump’: littered with half- wanted people I could shout ideas how ghostly I found the view outside my wake my son for school. Then, as I’m requires me to forward her email to Z. remotely, yet there’s a eaten rice cakes, cast-off socks and across the office at. I wanted throwaway window: all those empty units. scraping uneaten Weetabix into the By half-past ten, I have generated an nappies. She often stepped in puddles remarks, chit chat, I even began to miss kitchen bin I glance out the window perception that you’re not email thread the length of my arm, and A few weeks later, an organisation I’d of smoothie and puke. the thing that annoyed me most about toward the sky and I see he’s still got a I’m no closer to resolving an ostensibly been freelancing for offered to put me really working if you’re shared offices – gossip. few dozen rungs to go. ‘Come on,’ I say simple problem. I go downstairs, put the But the worst part was the surveillance. on staff, and I all but took the hand off to my son, ‘the crane man is almost doing it at home, that kettle on and eat two chocolate Her employer had installed productivity them. It would mean a fixed income, there. You’ll be late.’ What I mean by this, you’re not ‘part of the Hobnobs while I’m waiting for it to boil. If monitoring software on the laptops of Marooned pension, holiday pay, sick leave is we will both be late. I work remotely myself, X, Y, and Z were in the same remote workers, to make sure they entitlements, and a desk in their office. from home and if I’m not at my desk by proper workforce’.“ room the problem would be solved by weren’t skiving off. She was working Instead I was marooned, connected to The desk was the clincher. If working the time the crane-operator has reached now. I carry my mug of tea upstairs and morning, noon, and night–and couldn’t the world by my Skybox, and from this remotely had taught me anything, it was his cab, I worry that the day is running Mornings are a flurry of emails. This is see there are two missed calls from Z on wait to get back ‘into the proper remote eyrie the simplest of questions that humans, for all their imperfections, away from me. productive, I tell myself, even though it my mobile. I call her back, but it goes to workforce’, as she put it. meant composing an email, and waiting were what I’d missed the most n

30 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 31 Food Photo: Matt Russell/The Guardian. Let’s face it, the Irish Winter has really only just started. Until some The boys and girls in the marketing department were quick to catch on, and time in April, the cold and damp will continue to assault us. The now everything from ready meals to Scandinavians have perfected the art of Hygge (defined as ‘a mood of chocolate bars are tripping over themselves to announce their protein coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and content to you. contentment’) and DANIEL DEVERY reckons a similar approach to Ironically, that much maligned protein, comforting food in the coldest months provides the key, not just to gluten, still has its absence loudly declared in a lot of processed foods (a surviving the bitterest season, but to actively enjoying it. quick reminder here that Coeliac Daniel Devery. disease is a very serious condition, and shouldn’t be confused for the current vogue for ‘gluten intolerance’). As any sensible nutritionist will tell you, a healthy balance is everything. We’re Sensible pleasures encouraged to steer a sensible course between the emaciated joyless kale disciples climbing up to the moral high ground of the food pyramid on one side, and the crisps-and-chocolate bingers on the other side who don’t really feel like climbing anything right now. “A golden crust of nutty sweetness, a little crunch, a lot of starchy comfort, with wilted greens on the side, felt like the beginnings of a Anna Jones’ root vegetable stew with celeriac dumplings. new and wonderful and red kidney beans. There was a The celeriac dumplings, a combination dozen or more whole cloves of garlic, of grated celeriac, self-raising flour, friendship.” seasoned with black pepper, fresh cheddar cheese, thyme and – oh yes thyme and bay leaves. The braising please – lots of butter, were a revelation. Oh, and a short public service liquid was a treacle coloured half litre of A golden crust of nutty sweetness, a announcement: The production of old fashioned porter stout, fresh out of little crunch, a lot of starchy comfort, almond milk (a favourite tipple of the St. James’s Gate. with wilted greens on the side, felt like clean eaters) is one of the main factors The week before there was no meat the beginnings of a new and wonderful behind the drought in California, where involved at all. Celeriac, that knobbly, friendship. more than 80% of the world's almonds gnarly and versatile root vegetable, still are grown. It takes 6,098 litres of water It’s rare enough for a home cook to be in abundance at this time of year (its to produce just one litre of almond milk. entranced by their own food (they are season runs roughly from October to often inured to the flavours from having Not on my porridge thank you very March), took centre stage. been so involved in the dish’s creation), much. “While we’re here let’s tip but this one was a proper charmer, so thank you Anna. Pleasure our hat to butter. That golden-coloured perky What we’re doing at this time of year is Gravy Photo: Fórsa Communications Unit. Photo: Fórsa parking that month of seasonal over- block of wonder who THIS DISCUSSION begins and ends One of the many irritating aspects of justifiably crave during these long, cold indulgence behind us and trying to eat With this approach I think we can with mashed potatoes. No other food the self-styled ‘clean eating’ movement – dark months – is banished to a list of well. We just need to remind ourselves plays such an important definitely find our way out of the bitter can achieve the simultaneous feat of a dogmatic brand of food morality that’s prohibitions that would make that that this does not preclude one of my role in this dish.” abyss of darkest winter. The roasted being filling, comforting, warming, been enjoying too long a time on its self- notoriously fun-averse curmudgeon of favourite food ingredients: pleasure. chicken will deliver a lovely stock, nourishing, tasty, therapeutic, even the Old testament, Leviticus, blush. I was trying out Anna Jones’ root perfumed with veg, bay leaves and righteous perch – is how perfectly good And there is so much pleasure to be medicinal, especially if you’ve had a bad vegetable stew with celeriac dumplings peppercorns. staple foods have been demonised into found. day. And more especially if that day was submission. (a quick online search will deliver the cold, damp and dark. Free the glutens! For me it’s a weekend feast of slowly recipe details on The Guardian’s The stock will deliver a great soup or Clean eating disciples appear to be able bubbling casserole, filling your home website). This was the dish that brought gravy for next week’s roast, and the While we’re here let’s tip our hat to Before Gwyneth Paltrow led the charge to shamelessly boast about perfectly with the sweet fragrance of slowly it all home to me. gravy, poured lovingly over whipped, butter. That golden-coloured perky on this joyless clean-eating quest, it was good food they don’t eat. Isn’t that a bit braising, aromatic root vegetables and buttery mashed potato, will fill your block of wonder who plays such an diet guru Robert Atkins who drove The vegetables, braised in red wine and like talking at length about films you’ll herbs. senses, soothe your soul, and keep your important role in this dish. And let’s also never watch? popular opinion away from stock with white beans and harissa spirits up until the clocks move forward tip our hat to the Irish dairy farmers, the carbohydrates (a quick reminder here Last week this was prepared with a paste, for just the smallest kick of and the days are bright again. grass and the cows for producing, Potatoes, bread, pasta, indeed any form that carbohydrates are an essential fuel roasting joint of beef, perched on a comforting heat, conspire to assure you frankly, the best butter in the western of comforting, warming fat-lubricated for the human body), and helped create trivet of roughly chopped carrots, that the absence of meat from this dish All hail the humble spud, and his buttery world. Bravo to all of you. starch – the very stuff our bodies the current obsession with protein. parsnip, onions, finely chopped celery does not diminish it in any way. companion n 32 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 33 Culture Vulture 2020 looks to be another year of rich offerings in Irish arts romance (maybe) sex (maybe) a special On Sunday 9th February, Perspectives an acclaimed generation of Irish writers and entertainment. NIALL SHANAHAN takes a look at appearance by Our Lady (definitely) and celebrates the groundswell of women’s to speak up. The cast includes Eimear a guaranteed miracle. voices in Irish literature, music and McBride (A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing, poetry. Imagining Ireland: Speaking Up, some of the theatre, music and book highlights coming up From 23rd January at the Project Arts Strange Hotel), Sara Baume (A Line Singing Louder is billed as an intimate Centre, Dublin and then touring the Made by Walking), Wendy Erskine in the early months of the year, and salutes one of our event celebrating those voices, bringing country as follows: (Sweet Home), Sinéad Gleeson together a stellar cast of women with a contributors on the publication of her first book. (Constellations) and Emer McLysaght & n 29th January: Town Hall Theatre, lot to say. Sarah Breen (Oh My God, What a Galway Niall Shanahan. Art-pop auteur, SOAK, creates Complete Aisling, The Importance of n 31st January-1st February: emotionally probing songs of startling Being Aisling). Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick candor. Lisa O’Neill’s raw and n 4th February: Dunamaise Arts unvarnished folk has won widespread Word and music meet in the work of Culture radar 2020 Centre, Portlaoise praise and awards. With Lankum and Denise Chaila, a Zambian-Irish rapper, n 5th February: Mermaid Arts solo, Radie Peat (a personal favourite) is singer and poet hailing from Chikankata, Centre, Bray one of the remarkable voices of new Zambia and based in Limerick. Her folk. Sorcha Richardson’s debut First n 7th February: Ramor Theatre, music blends spoken word and rap to THE REVIVAL of a classic Brian Friel Prize Bravery marks the arrival of a Cavan give voice to the sound of a transatlantic play is always a good reason to head to major new artist. n odyssey. The event is curated by Sinéad the theatre, and in March the national 8th February: Visual, Carlow The words are just as vital as the music, Gleeson and Gary Sheehan, NCH. theatre brings the mystical and n 11th-12th February: Civic Theatre, the show gathers the leading lights of Details and booking at nch.ie n spellbinding Faith Healer back to the Tallaght Abbey stage. Joe Dowling directs, 40 n 14th-15th February: Pavilion years since he directed the Irish Theatre, #DúnLaoghaire premiere of the play at the Abbey n Theatre. 17th-20th February: Everyman, Cork Frank Hardy (played by Game of n 21st February: Backstage, Tá Úna- Thrones/Peaky Blinders star Aidan Gillen) is the faith healer of the title. Longford Travelling through remote and isolated n 22nd February: Draíocht, areas in Scotland and Wales, he offers Blanchardstown his unique cure to the most desperate n 25th February: Glór, Ennis and hopeless of people. Does he Minh anseo n 27th-29th February: The MAC, actually possess a gift? Or are these Belfast rare and miracle healings only tricks of A COUPLE of years ago we were the mind? n 4th-5th March: Irish Cultural fortunate enough to convince a busy Centre, Paris Telling the story of Frank, his wife Grace young gaming, travel and food blogger to n and manager Teddy, we encounter 7th March: Source, Thurles write about travel for Fórsa magazine. differing perspectives of their absurd More details at facebook.com/AHoly Úna-Minh Kavanagh has been bringing us and momentous lives together. With ShowBy JanetMoran/ tales of adventures, far-flung and closer each tale come new revelations in this to home, ever since. We consider spellbinding narrative. From 30th ourselves lucky to have her as a March on the Abbey Stage. See Perspectives at NCH contributor and we were delighted to see abbeytheatre.ie for more details. her become a published author last The National Concert Hall’s October. Perspectives series has brought a Corn Exchange dynamic range of performers to the In 2013 Úna-Minh took to Twitter to call NCH stage in recent years, including out the ‘land of a thousand welcomes’ for The always innovative Corn Exchange New York’s Bang On A Can Allstars’ its naivety and cowardice in dealing with company will bring Michael West and performances of music by Brian Eno racism. This followed an incident when The Fall Annie Ryan’s ensemble comedy, and Steve Reich, the Will Gregory Moog she was racially abused and spat upon in of The Second Republic , to the Peacock Ensemble and jazz legend Pharoah Dublin’s city centre. Having dealt with stage from 24th February. racism throughout her young life, this Sanders, to name just a few. Fórsa magazine editor Niall Shanahan A Holy Show, starring Roseanna Purcell and Mark Fitzgerald tours from February. proud Kerrywoman had finally had enough. picked up his signed copy of Anseo from the author herself at the book’s launch in Ennis) is a fearless and determined A Holy Show But Úna-Minh’s story actually begins in Easons, Dublin, last October. investigative reporter. Her target is the Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1991, when she was The play that promises you a miracle, Taoiseach, Manny Spillane, a wily adopted at just three days old by a single woman from Kerry. political survivor. actor/writer/director Janet Moran’s comedy is back for a national tour after Raised in a loving, Irish-speaking home by her mother and grandfather, she was Their paths cross in the ruins of an old successful turns at the Dublin and instilled with an enduring sense of her multi-faceted Irish identity. theatre, set to be the site for a banking Edinburgh festivals in 2018 and 2019. In Anseo, published by New Island, she writes honestly and humorously about centre, which promises to bring wealth Inspired by the 1981 hijacking of an Aer tackling racism, language elitism and online trolls and the joy of turning her love of to the Irish economy as well to Spillane Lingus plane by an ex-Trappist monk the internet, video games and accessible Irish-language content into a healthy Caitríona Ennis plays investigative and his cohorts. What Emer uncovers with a bottle of water as his weapon, the work/life balance. reporter Emer Hackett, pursuing sparks a fury of consequences for her Pope as his nemesis, and a burning corruption in a reimagined Irish state. The book is sprinkled throughout with Úna-Minh’s own #FrásaAnLae, and Anseo is newspaper, her colleagues and the desire to know The Third Secret of the heart-warming story of a diverse and contemporary Irish life. Available in all In an imagined Ireland, 50 years after its political framework of the country. See Fatima, A Holy Show promises music, good book shops now n independence, Emer Hackett (Caitríona abbeytheatre.ie for more details. nostalgia, heroism, praying, visions, Radie Peat. 34 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 35 Music As we enter a new decade the editorial team at Fórsa magazine are the deposits? Too soon? Yeah, too soon. Moby’s Play saw out the millennium in especially when shopping for clothes 1999 along with The Red Hot Chilli online. My editor and I had one of our many nevertheless resigned to the reality that, in one particular corner of a Peppers Californication and David fraternal public house spats on this He pointed me in the direction of the Gray’s White Ladder (coming back to an shabby bar room in Finglas, it will forever be somewhere between whole business of entering a new “liberating life affirming joy” that is arena near you in 2020). Moby could decade. Both of us are fond of an Lizzo. I wondered aloud what had 1978 and 1979 as far as RAYMOND CONNOLLY is concerned. Lately have exercised a bit more restraint opinion, usually our own. He seems to become of Neneh Cherry, only for him to when it came to the ads. He licensed we’ve debated him on the merits of music at the turn of the decade. He think that, like my discredited Arsenal tell me Cherry toured last year with an every tune until he it was used to flog theory, imminent closure of a decade album called Broken Politics. Raymond took the bait, but not before he met his footballing hero Liam Brady on everything from cars to coffee and beer, brings about music’s most industrious Connolly. leaving a slightly sullied aftertaste. an aeroplane. Readers should be advised that this article contains creativity, as if in some way artists stand up to define the decade. substantial Brady-themed preamble. The music fades in eventually. “London Calling by The Clash and Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders opened the 1980s, and Out with the old at this stage I’m cruising to victory but, in boxing Photo: EMPICS OT THEY SAY you should never meet your parlance, I punched heroes, as they’re likely to disappoint The Beatles, Abbey Road. myself out.” The Pretenders. you. But take a bow Mr Liam Brady from Then he introduced me to Kate Tempest. Whitehall for bucking the trend. I had I assumed, not for the first time, that my editor was drawing his inspiration from In terms of singles we had Victoria by Bingo. Now here indeed is a reason to occasion recently to travel back from an step out of 1979, even if only for a day. Arsenal away game in his company, and the bottle of altar wine he keeps in his the Kinks in January 1970 and Liquidator London The closing track on Tempest’s latest a more polite and engaging character desk, but then I did the research. He has by Harry J All Stars. Calling Brass in album, People’s Faces, is perhaps the you couldn’t meet. Hats off Liam. Hero a point, but, like Eric Morecambe, he’s by The Clash and Pocket first artistic gesture of post-Brexit worship is alive and well. playing all the right notes but not by The Pretenders opened the necessarily in the right order. 1980s, and at this stage I’m cruising to healing for a traumatised nation. We spoke about the current malaise of victory but, in boxing parlance, I My editor’s new fad (well it’s a new The Arsenal and Liam reminded me that punched myself out. Best of the decades decade) for new (-ish) female voices the team I began supporting, which he suggested I explore the highly played in, flirted with relegation for a Scrolling through the top albums at the acclaimed folk innovations of Dublin few years before blossoming in 1979. conclusion of each decade of my own band Lankum, but my time warp An FA Cup final win, a glorious last life, we had The Beatles Abbey Road in machine just couldn’t cope. My editor minute victory against the 1969 (a big boost for road safety) the became more animated as he tried to unmentionables from Manchester (not iconic Velvet Underground‘s eponymous explain “the soaring beauty of drone- City). It’s often referred to as ‘The Brady release and The Who’s Tommy (a induced melancholy” and how their Cup Final’. disturbing piece of genius). Livelong Day album is the soundtrack of contemporary Ireland. “I wondered aloud what A decade later and 1979 brought The had become of Neneh Specials debut (produced by Elvis Costello), Pink Floyd’s The Wall (not my Cherry, only for him to tell cup of Barry’s but undeniably inventive) me Cherry toured last and Look Sharp by Joe Jackson. year with an album called .” Broken Politics The Clash, London Calling. The Arsenal were at it again in 1989, The pick of January 1990 was Nothing clinching a first league title in 18 years Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor and with a dramatic last-minute win at some N-R-G by Adamski (featuring a bottle of place called Anfield. These successes Lucozade). January 2000 saw some led me to conclude that the close of the respite with The Great Beyond by REM decade was when we did our finest and the remaining pick of a bad lot was work. Gabrielle’s Rise (risible in my view). 1999 brought a spectacular end-of- season collapse which allowed the unmentionables to complete an Droning on unprecedented treble. When my editor sensed a rare victory in Such a hurtful way to demolish my Liam Brady. our conversational joust, he proceeded The Specials. theory. to display his tendency to be ahead of enter a new decade. American author I’m a little bit of both, and mindful of the game and mercilessly dislodge me Kate Tempest. and columnist Bill Vaughan was quite Oscar Wilde’s caustic assertion that In 1989 it was The Stone Roses (still from my time warp. My eternal optimism sceptical about this new leaf business. “good resolutions are simply cheques not convinced, something upon which I stepped outside as yer man droned on, “An optimist stays up until midnight to that men draw on a bank where they my editor and I are in complete I have previously advised that if you and engaged myself in an imaginary The journey into January can be see the New Year in. A pessimist stays have no account”. Maybe if we had some agreement) and the wonderful Club choose to live in a time warp, select a conversation with Felix the Feral Cat, defining, and magnified by ten as we up to make sure the old year leaves.” sort of state-sponsored guarantee on Classics Vol I by Soul II Soul. good one and cling on for dear life, which I won comfortably n

36 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 37

Travel As we get settled into 2020, we can look forward to a brand-new visitor centre at the park is well known for featuring exhibitions on the year and what better to leap headfirst into it all by exploring Ireland’s surrounding area and is free of charge. Head to the top of the 400-metre high great outdoors. UNA-MINH Kavanagh takes us on a whistle stop tour Diamond Hill where on a good day you’ll of some of the best spots in Ireland. be able to see the islands of Inishbofin, Inishturn and Inishshark.

Wild Nephon Ballycroy Una-Minh Kavanagh. National Park, Mayo Ballycroy has one of the largest expanses of peatland left in Europe with The timeless wonder Glenveagh National Park, Donegal. nearly 120km of Atlantic blanket bog, thus making it a very special and Donegal is home to some of the most developed arboretum, the park also protected place. The visitor centre has breath-taking scenery in Ireland. At the contains the home of Charles Stewart unbelievable panoramic views of both heart of the park at the edge of Lough Parnell that was built in 1777 and is the park and Achill Island. Experienced of the great outdoors Veagh sits Glenveagh Castle a late 19th now the Parnell Museum. hillwalkers will probably enjoy Ballycroy century castellated mansion. A the most and the park has multiple horticultural masterpiece, the gardens walking routes with its Claggan at the castle have been conserved to Derrycarne Wood, Leitrim Mountain coastal boardwalk route the highest standard with rare plants connecting visitors to the wild. For unique to Ireland. Though the Derrycarne House was those with a permit and who are on demolished in the 1950s, the multi-day hikes, you can also camp in surrounding lands provide a calm and the designated areas with a ‘Leave no Lambay Island, Dublin pleasant walk route along the shore of Trace’ policy. Not a park per-se but still an outdoor treasure that showcases true sustainable living. This island is completely off-grid and unattached to the mainland. Utilising solar and wind energy to power the island, Lambay also has its own natural spring for water. There are delightful walks, sandy shores for relaxing, swimming and a plethora of natural wildlife to be seen. A protected bird sanctuary, it’s also home to the largest breeding colony of Atlantic Great Grey Seals on the east coast of Ireland!

Tollymore Forest Park, Down Gleninchaquin Park, Kerry. Tollymore was in fact the first state Lough Boderg. Walk amongst a rich forest park in Northern Ireland! It covers Gleninchaquin Park, Kerry wood full of beech, oak, spruce and a whopping 1600 acres with panoramic cypress or get onto the water where Log bridges, mountain paths, lush views of the Mourne Mountains, so you Gougane Barra, Cork. cruisers have access to the lake through meadows, lakes and waterfalls greet can imagine what natural delights it visitors to Gleninchaquin. This incredible holds for visitors. This park is open all the Shannon’s water system. WE’RE SPOILED for choice on this within these hills that the River Lee comprising of land and islands, it’s also valley was formed by glaciation year round and caters for campers, island and while this is a great list of rises. Head to the edge of the lake to home to a native woodland, bog garden, approximately 70,000 years ago and tours, walkers and even those on options, it certainly isn’t an exhaustive the island where St. Finbarr, the patron follies and historical features from Connemara National Park, makes for a fantastic day out for both horseback. For fans of Game of one, so I would recommend you check experienced walkers and those who saint of Cork founded his early Christian bridges to canals. For walkers, the trails Thrones, you can also take tours of Galway out the National Parks & Wildlife Service monastery in the 6th century. It’s a park are graded with the length, expected prefer a stroll. Picnicers and those with Tollymore and see where they filmed a barbeque are welcome and if you have at npws.ie and coillte.ie to discover for all seasons, and has six walking trails duration and whether the trail is linear With nearly 5000 acres under its belt, part of the series! pets, they’re welcome to roam across what’s in your area. This is but a taster to suit all levels of fitness. or looped. For cyclists, there are about there’s no doubt that Connemara is a the hundreds of acres. The massive 140 for the experience with hopefully a few 8km of routeways to explore that are must for outdoor lovers. Bogs, heaths, metre waterfall is a sight to behold, unexpected locations to add to your traffic free. Avondale Forest Park, grasslands and forests await those ‘must-visit’ list. Lough Key Forest Park, willing to venture into the wilderness especially after a heavy rain when the Wicklow and visitors will be rewarded with water is torrenting down the side of the Roscommon mountain. Six short walks and a nature Glenveagh National Park, Each trail in this 500-acre park offers unbelievable views from the famous Gougane Barra, Cork trail are available to visitors which are Perfect for all the family, Lough Key is varying lengths and showcases the best Twelve Bens (Beanna Beola) range. Donegal both suitable for adults and children. This visually stunning location is set in a the place to go for both young and old of what Avondale has to offer, be it by Animal lovers may spot Connemara deep U-shaped valley that was carved adventurers. It’s home to ‘Ireland’s only It would be impossible to write about foot or by bike. Head under the ponies, red deer and even peregrine Una-Minh Kavanagh is a travel writer, out of the mountains in West Cork at the Tree Canopy Walk’ that immerses you in every wonderful thing that Glenveagh woodland canopy and through the trees falcons, while historians can reflect on gamer and content producer. Her first end of the last Ice Age. The glorious the history, flora and fauna of the area. National Park has to offer. This remote and view everything over the Avonmore times gone by with ruined houses, book, Anseo, is published by New Island books, see more about it on page 35 n Photos: dreamstime.com park covers over 339 acres, and it is Based in a 19th century parkland park nestled into the wild ruggedness of river valley. Rich in wildlife, with a well- ancient walls and former ice houses. The

40 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 41 Public services From January 2020 employers will now no longer be obliged statutory deductions for each employment or pension held during the to provide P60 documents to their staff. Instead, employees year. It can be downloaded or printed will access their P60 information through Revenue’s online and used where proof of income is system, myAccount. HAZEL GAVIGAN reports. required by a third party. "This statement is based on income and statutory deductions reported by all employers during the year and shows Hazel Gavigan. whether the correct tax has been paid. If necessary, a short online return can be completed to claim additional tax credits or declare additional income,” Marking the changes she explains. What’s available Pay and tax details reported by at Revenue for 2020 employers are also accessible through myAccount. Only pay and statutory deductions are available, as employers don’t report non-statutory deductions to Revenue, such as union subscriptions or credit union payments. “If you notice any discrepancies between the information shown in myAccount and those on your payslip, you should contact your employer,” said Sinéad.

End of year statement Further enhancements to the end of year process include the provision of the end of year statement. A preliminary end of year statement (P21) will be made available to all PAYE customers from 15th Jan 2020 and is based on the income and statutory deductions reported by employers, pension included in the final document,” she providers and any other income known Pay and tax summary to Revenue. document says. “If you notice any Sinéad says the advantages of the new Receipts tracker discrepancies between pay and tax summary feature is that it allows customers to create a secure Another easy way for PAYE customers the information shown in document summarising those details. to manage their tax affairs is by using myAccount and those on “The summary is password protected Revenue’s receipts tracker. This service your payslip, you should and allows customers to manage who is available in the ‘manage my record’ accesses their information. Users can section of myAccount. It allows contact your employer.” securely transfer this summary customers to record and keep track of electronically as proof of income to any receipts for various expenses.

Photo: dreamstime.com Sinéad says the preliminary statement person or body, such as a financial Sinéad explains, “When making a claim will indicate whether the customer has institution, a solicitor or local authority to Revenue, customers are ordinarily THIS NEW arrangement marks another greater transparency over tax affairs “One of the most important paid the correct amount of tax for the to perhaps apply for a loan, mortgage or in a series of changes introduced by and makes it easier to ensure all developments for PAYE customers is year: “As well as the tax breakdown, if a grant. required to keep a record of receipts for Revenue in the last 12 months. January entitlements are availed of. that employers are no longer customer wants to receive a statement six years. 2019 saw mandatory reporting of liability or make additions, “There’s a number of different responsible for providing their P60. “With the receipts tracker, they don’t introduced for employers who now have Change manager for PAYE amendments or corrections to the configurations of information which can have to keep a paper copy of receipts if to report pay and statutory deductions modernisation, Sinéad Sweeney said “At the start of this year, Revenue made information included on the preliminary be included in the summary document they upload the image to Revenue to Revenue as part of their payroll the quickest and easiest way of an employment detail summary statement, they can submit and an depending on why you require it. process. This was described as the available to its customers through the storage. This makes it much easier to managing tax affairs is through online income tax return on myAccount.” “Details of your pay and tax for the most significant reform of the PAYE myAccount. She explained some of the PAYE services section in myAccount. make a claim at the end of the year.” This summary serves the same purpose Other improvements to the service current year to date, a comprehensive system since its introduction in 1960. system’s recent improvements: The Revenue Commissioner is actively as the old P60 and can be used in include being able to claim an breakdown of payments received from “Revenue is committed to continuously an employer or employers for the last encouraging everyone to register for The new P60 procedure aims to build on exactly the same manner. unemployment repayment, update civil that initiative, allowing PAYE customers enhancing and simplifying our online status, upload supporting one to three months and a statement of myAccount to take advantage of these to take advantage of the availability of services to make it easier for people to “The employment detail summary documentation for claims and download liability for the last four tax years are the enhancements, making your tax affairs real time information. This facilitates manage their tax affairs. document contains the pay and a secure pay and tax summary. options. Any or all of these can be much easier to manage n

42 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 43 Union campaigns The Financial Services Union’s campaign on the ‘right to disconnect’ responses to the stresses faced by workers that are being exacerbated by is set to grow this year. The campaign seeks to challenge the gradual technology. Work extension can be extension of the working day facilitated by smartphones and other tackled, but it requires a collective response, not one where individuals are technology. The FSU’s PAUL DILLON explains how this is blurring the somehow expected to simply absorb lines between work and leisure, the office and the home, changing our extra work on buses, trains, on the go, or on couches in their homes. Paul Dillon. understanding of work and piling additional stress onto workers. FSU research conducted by the University of Limerick reveals that one in four workers in banking, finance and technology are expected to answer calls and emails outside of paid working Taking on the hours. “Working hours are increasing, commuting times are up and work- ‘always on’ culture related stress and pressure are a feature of many workers lives.”

Keynes in the 1930s - of a future with The same research revealed that very greatly reduced working hours and few employers are taking steps to vastly increased leisure time - have not prevent employees over-using come to pass. Instead, the opposite has technology for work purposes. Just occurred. Working hours are increasing, 1.3% of responders to the University of commuting times are up and work- Limerick research indicated that their related stress and pressure are a employer had put in place measures to feature of many workers lives. prevent employees over-using technology for work purposes. Privatised stress El Khomri law There’s an increasing body of evidence to suggest that workers are bearing the All of this begs the question: what is to brunt of the stress caused by be done to protect workers from the technology at work on a personal and extension of the working day through individual level. The problems technology, in a context where few experienced by many people are, in employers are taking on the challenge of effect, privatised to the individual when the "always on" culture. it comes to finding a solution. The French have paved the way. Their ‘right to disconnect’ legislation – ‘El change. By amending the Working Time with breach of policy through the WRC “Phones, laptops, tablets Khomri’ (Article 55, Chapter II "Adapting Act 1997, the principle of a right to should also be introduced. and other devices are the Labour Law to the Digital Age") - is disconnect could clearly be established often cited as the best example. Since in law. Throughout Europe, working hours are allowing employers to the French passed this law in 2016 - increasing. We’re also working for Such an amendment could also clearly operating on the basis that companies longer. The last government wound back stretch out working time define a right to disconnect, and with more than 50 workers are obliged the clock on the retirement age, and this acknowledge the role of ‘standby by giving people the to draw up a charter of setting out the is a European trend. While a right to allowances’ and overtime payment for WE ARE very attached to our phones. respond to messages, and take calls hours when staff are not supposed to disconnect would be very welcome, a means to answer emails, employees who work, or are available to Almost all of us hold in our hands a after working hours. send or answer emails - others have wider debate into working time also work, outside of working hours. It’s device that’s more powerful and followed suit. needs to take place. This technological revolution is blurring respond to messages, crucial that workers can liaise with possesses more computing power than the lines between work and leisure, the It has recently come up for discussion in employers through their unions to If we work together, we can start to turn all the computers in the world in 1969. and take calls after office and home, and changing our very Ireland. Last summer, jobs minister establish local right-to-disconnect back the tide on the encroachment of This of course brings obvious benefits, understanding of work. Ever-increasing working hours.” Heather Humphries announced she was policies. working time into personal time. Please opportunities and outlets for numbers of people are working from "looking at" a right to disconnect law in support the campaign by signing our Local agreements and policies with entertainment. But it’s not all good home while, at work, roles are being There’s a boom in the ‘wellness’ industry, Ireland. Since then it’s become clear petition at commitments from senior management news. transformed by technology. The future and indeed many employers are making that the Government favours a policy actionnetwork.org/petitions/i-support- to minimise out-of-hours contact with of certain roles is being questioned, as wellness programmes available to staff, solution. Better than nothing at all, the-right-to-disconnect/ The problem for an increasing number of workers would help too. Establishing technology develops at a pace which is but there’s a legitimate concern that this perhaps, but the FSU has argued that workers is that this technology is being on-call/standby allowances for any Paul Dillon is an organiser with the causing many of us to rethink what work is treating the symptoms rather than far more is required. used to lengthen the working day. worker expected to keep a device on, Financial Services Union (FSU). Follow will look like in the future. addressing the root causes of stress Phones, laptops, tablets and other Legislation could put a stop to the and restoring the concept of paid him on Twitter at @pauldonaldillon and and pressure in the workplace. devices are allowing employers to This revolution in the world of work is, expectation that workers should be overtime for work done on devices after check out Paul’s excellent podcast stretch out working time by giving however, proving to be far from benign. This is why the Financial Services Union available outside of paid working hours, working hours, should also be part of about workplace issues, The Office people the means to answer emails, The predictions made by John Maynard is arguing for positive, collective and bring about the necessary cultural any legislation. A mechanism to deal Block, via @TheOBtweets n 44 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 45 Advertorial Win win win Introducing Current WIN PRIZE PRIZE Accounts from Public Service €50 CROSSWORD QUIZ

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13 Crossword composed by Peter Connaughton. address to Hazel Gavigan, Fórsa prize CURRENT ACCOUNT with PSCU is a quiz. Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin, full-service current account that is D01 R2C5. We’ll send €50 to the first 14 15 16 separate from your existing savings or completed entry pulled from the hat.* loan accounts. This current account All the answers can be found in the 17 provides you with instant access to your pages of this magazine. money through a debit card, a secure 1. Where did Raymond Connolly 18 19 app and online portal. In other words, meet Liam Brady? your credit union is always with you, no a On a golf course matter where in the world you are! b In a pub c On a flight from London 20 21 You also get the added benefit of a d The BlackStock pub in Finsbury current account that is delivered by your Park friendly credit union. 2. Which member of the US The benefits of having a administration appears as a ACROSS 2. 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Len was head judge on Strictly d Arís n Instant access to your 18. Members of the Total Abstinence Come Dancing for 12 years (7) n Proof of ID: Copy of a current driving money How to open a current Association (8) 15. Welsh rock band, who had a hit with 4. When is the PSSA agreement licence or passport. 19. First President of Ireland (4) “Buck Rogers” (6) due to expire? n Globally accepted debit card account and apply for a n 20. In The Matrix, the Prime Program 16. This before, job, out and right (6) a 29th February 2020 debit card Proof of address: Copy of a utility bill n Use in-store, online or at ATMs or bank statement (dated in the last (3,3) 17. Number of senior All Ireland titles b 31st March 2020 6 months). 21. Vertical fin on the back of a fish and won by Mick O’Dwyer as a manager c 31st October 2020 n Contactless Already a member? marine mammals (6) (5) d 31st December 2020 n Online: If you are registered for n PPS Number: Copy of your n Cashback from participating DOWN 19. This to This – American mystery TV Online Banking, you can apply for a Certificate of Tax Credits, P60 or retailers 1. West Indian music and a sea nymph series starring Robert Wagner and 5. Daniel Devery’s food column current account and debit card payslip. begins and ends with what? n in Greek mythology (7) Stefanie Powers (4) Existing/new members 16yrs or online. Many credit union members have been a An unnecessary flourish older are eligible to apply n In person: Call in to either the waiting for a new current account as an ISSUE 8 (AUTUMN-WINTER) WINNERS: b Humblebragging c Mashed potato n Overdraft available to 18 years and Earlsfort Terrace or the Earl Place alternative to those offered by the main CROSSWORD: John Tierney (Property Registration Authority). QUIZ: Valerie O’Connell (Probation Services). d Questionable punctuation older office. banks. The wait is over n SURVEY: Thomas Byrne (Revenue). PLEASE NOTE: Your current account is not eligible The small print* n ISSUE 8 (AUTUMN-WINTER) CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS: Separate from share and deposit Not a member? for a dividend nor does it qualify for free credit You must be a paid-up Fórsa member to win. accounts Only one entry per person (multiple entries n Online: To start your application for union insurance cover as it is designed for everyday ACROSS: 7. Volume 8. Larson 9. Posh 10. Tungsten 11. Von der Leyen 14. Marlborough 18. Alicante banking. If you would like to lodge funds to your new will not be considered). Entries must reach n 19. Reet 20. Waylon 21. Litmus DOWN 1. Molotov 2. Hugh 3. Dexter 4. Plunge 5. Prospero 6. Nobel 24/7 Call Centre for lost/stolen membership please visit current account, you can do so by using Online 12. Dead Calm 13. Igneous 15. Lining 16. O’Neill 17. Bleak 19. Rite us by Friday 6th March 2020. The editor’s cards www.pscu.ie/membership Banking or by Salary Deduction. decision is final. That’s it! 46 Winter-Spring 2020 The magazine for Fórsa members 47 Survey YOUR How do you like Fórsa? VIEW WE HOPE you enjoyed this issue of Fórsa, the magazine for Fórsa members. We want to hear your views, and we’re offering a €100 prize to one lucky winner who completes this WIN €100 questionnaire.

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4. What were your least favourite articles? The survey 1 ______2 ______3 ______1. What did you think of the articles in the winter-spring 2020 issue of Fórsa? 5. What subjects would you like to see in future issues of Excellent o Fórsa? Good o 1 ______Okay o 2 ______Bad o 3 ______Awful o 6. What did you think of the balance between union news Comments ______and other articles? ______The balance is about right o ______I want more union news o I want less union news o 2. What did you think of the layout, style and pictures in the winter-spring 2020 issue of Fórsa? 7. Any other comments?______Excellent o ______Good o ______Okay o ______Bad o ______Awful o

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48 Winter-Spring 2020